Warriors Comeback Bid Falls Short Against Cuesta

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College fell just short in a 71-68 loss to Cuesta on Friday afternoon in day two of the SBCC/ECC Holiday Classic at the ECC Gym Complex.

The Warriors trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half but cut the deficit to two in the closing moments of the game. The Warriors climbed to within 70-68 with two seconds left in regulation and fouled Cuesta guard Aiden Pearsall-Morgan, who hit one of two to make it a three-point game.

Chase Williams, who made his season debut on Friday, launched the inbound pass to the opposite wing where Rocco Gaffoglio caught the ball untouched and took a step-back three that fell short as time expired.

With the loss, the Warriors will play in the seventh-place game of the tournament while the Cougars will play in the consolation bracket championship.

Kai Johnson led the Warriors with 16 points and five steals while Gaffoglio set a new career best with seven steals. Williams scored 10 points in 14 minutes off the bench in his season-debut, going 3-for-4 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

Pearsall-Morgan led all scorers with 20 points and Ryan McNamee added 17 for the Cougars in the win.