Rio Hondo drops South Coast Conference game to East LA, 80-65 

By Sergio Ramos

East Los Angeles College used balanced scoring and a strong second-half push to secure an 80–65 win over Rio Hondo College in a men's basketball matchup that stayed competitive before ELAC pulled away down the stretch. 

ELAC shot an efficient 49.2 percent from the field and controlled the glass with a 38–22 rebounding advantage, turning second-chance opportunities into steady offense throughout the night. 

Quinlan Daly led the Huskies with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, knocking down four three-pointers. Terrence Hampton added 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while Landon Winston chipped in 14 points. Imani Herring was also a key contributor, finishing with 12 points and six rebounds. 

Rio Hondo kept pace early behind strong shooting from Sebastian Esparza, who scored nine points in just 11 minutes, including two three-pointers. Matthew Rodriguez led the Roadrunners with 15 points and five rebounds, while Ryan Osborne and Bobby Reyes each added 10 points. 

The Roadrunners hung tough through the first half, matching ELAC's physical play and staying within striking distance despite turnover trouble. However, ELAC's depth proved decisive after halftime, as the Huskies consistently attacked the paint and capitalized at the free-throw line, finishing 14-of-18 from the stripe. 

Rio Hondo struggled to find offensive rhythm in the second half, committing 12 turnovers overall and managing just two assists as ELAC's defense tightened. Despite shooting 42.6 percent from the floor, the Roadrunners couldn't overcome the rebounding deficit or slow ELAC's balanced attack. 

With the win, East Los Angeles College showcased its depth and efficiency, placing five players in double figures and using a decisive late run to pull away for the 15-point victory.