Gaffoglio, Cricri Shine in Debuts as Warriors Defeat Santa Barbara

TORRANCE, Calif. --- Freshmen Rocco Gaffoglio and Justin Cricri were pivotal in El Camino College's 68-65 non-conference win over visiting Santa Barbara on Friday afternoon at the ECC Gym Complex.

The duo each recorded a 20-point game on Friday to help the Warriors overcome a double-digit deficit in the second half and pull out the victory on opening day.

Gaffoglio shot 8-for-15 from the field and 5-of-9 from distance to put up a game-high 24 points while Cricri flirted with a double-double as he went for 20 points and a team high eight rebounds. They were the only two players for ECC in double figures.

For the Vaqueros, Dante Calhoun led the way with 15 points and Brycen Matthews added 12 points and four assists.

The Warriors found themselves down eight at halftime after going cold from the field, shooting at a 36 percent clip (9-for-25) and hitting just two three-pointers in seven chances. The Vaqueros closed the half on an 11-1 scoring run to take a 32-24 lead into the break.

The deficit would grow to 13 points with 16:24 left in regulation before the Warriors stormed back in the second half. The team shot 55.2 percent from the field in the period and made nine of their 11 free-throw attempts. Cricri also scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half while Kai Johnson dished out all of his game-high six assists in the final period.

Trailing 56-47 with 9:50 left, the Warriors mounted a 9-0 scoring run in less than three minutes to pull even on a layup from Landon Starnes. The teams would trade the lead four times before another made basket by Starnes with 2:14 left tied the game at 62-62. Johnson would then roll in a layup with 1:17 left to put ECC up 64-62.

But the Vaqueros would not go quietly as a three-pointer by James Reach gave the Vaqueros a one-point lead with 42 seconds left.

The last word came from Cricri as he took a pass from Johnson and scored in the paint to give ECC the lead for good with 24 seconds left.

The defense would force a turnover by Joseph Ursich with one second left and then Gaffoglio iced the game with a pair of free throws.

The Warriors will return to action on Thursday, Nov. 6 when they host Fresno for the North/South Challenge. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.