Recently named PCAC South Player of the Year Darien McClain led the Knights with 20 points and four assists in a 73-62 home victory over Mt. San Antonio in the second round of the CCCAA playoffs.
It was City's 13 consecutive win and their first postseason victory since a 107-95 defeat of Allan Hancock College in the first round on February 26, 2014. The Knights are into the third round for the first time since 2009 when the Knights advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tournament.
The Knights fell behind, 17-10, late in the first half, but they went on a 12-0 run to capture a 22-17 lead and held a 29-25 halftime lead over Mt. San Antonio.
City extended that lead to 40-28 after an 8-0 spurt with 16:09 remaining, but the Mounties did not go away.
Mt. San Antonio rallied back with a 13-3 run of their own to cut the Knights' lead to 44-41 with 10:32 to go.
Three minutes later, McClain buried a three-pointer to cap a 10-2 run that put the Knights back in the driver's seat. The Knights went 8-for-12 from the free throw line in the final three minutes to keep the Mounties at bay.
Jahmere Mitchell brought down a season-high 13 rebound in Friday night's contest and added eight points. Marcus Brumsey and Alex Wilbourn scored 12 points a piece, while Robert McCoy and Darius lee contributed seven points each off the bench.
The Knights shot 46.9 percent for the game while holding Mt. San Antonio to 37.5 percent.
City's next opponent will be the winner of the San Bernardino Valley vs. Riverside game, which will be played on Saturday night. The Knight's third round game is scheduled for Saturday, March 4.
