Slow start sinks Vaqueros, 85-65

Hancock jumped ahead 10-0 in the first six minutes on Wednesday and went on to beat SBCC 85-65 in a WSC North men's basketball game in Santa Maria.

The Bulldogs (15-13, 6-5) shot 63 percent in the first half and closed on a 19-6 run to take a 47-23 lead into the locker room.

Sophomore guard Pablo Miranda tied his season high with 16 points on 5-6 shooting, including 3-4 from 3-point range, for the Vaqueros (1-21, 0-11). Alonzo McCain scored 10 off the bench, Thomas Callonea had nine on 3-4 3-point shooting and Jared Moore had eight.

"We turned it over seven times in the first seven minutes and never recovered," said coach Morris Hodges.

The Vaqueros cut a 29-point deficit to 15 a couple of times in the second half. A jumper by Miranda shaved the margin to 77-62 with 5:51 to play. But SBCC only scored three points the rest of the way.

Hancock outshot the Vaqueros 60.4 to 48 percent and won the rebound battle, 31-15. Josh Varney led the Bulldogs with 22 points.

SBCC hosts L.A. Pierce in its final game of the year on Saturday at 7 p.m.