El Camino College Loses 16-Point Lead in Loss to Pasadena : Basketball: A 31-14 run by the Lancers ends the Warriors’ quest for a South Coast Conference victory, 80-77.

After leading by as many as 16 points in the second half, the El Camino College men’s basketball team lost its South Coast Conference home opener Wednesday night to Pasadena, 80-77.

The Warriors (10-13, 0-2 in conference play) led, 57-41, with 17 minutes remaining in the game. Pasadena (8-12, 1-1) then took control, going on a 31-14 run for a 72-71 lead with five minutes 25 seconds remaining.

“We just didn’t produce,” El Camino Coach Paul Landreaux said. “We couldn’t put the ball in the basket down the stretch.”

The momentum changed when Warrior guard Damon Williams stole the ball from a Lancer player and scored on a slam dunk with 17:05 remaining, giving El Camino a 57-41 lead.

But Williams was called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim and Pasadena’s Jerry Major made two free throws.

Pasadena guard Todd Williams scored 15 of his 21 points in the run. His two free throws with 17 seconds left secured the victory.

Guard Jerry Major led Pasadena in scoring with 26 points and also led in rebounds with 13.

“He shot incredibly; I don’t think he missed a shot all night,” Landreaux said of Major, who made four three-point shots and all eight of his free-throw attempts.

The Warriors’ hopes of victory ended when Williams three-point attempt with two seconds remaining was short.

“We’ve lost two in a row and that puts us in a bad position,” Landreaux said. “We are now going into the real meat of our schedule.”

El Camino plays at Cerritos College at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, then plays Long Beach City at home Wednesday.

The Warriors were led by forward Mark Johnson, who finished with 32 points and seven rebounds.

Johnson made seven three-point baskets and scored 22 of his points in the first half, which ended with El Camino ahead, 46-35.

The Warriors trailed, 8-4, but scored 12 consecutive points for a 16-8 lead with 14 minutes left in the first half. El Camino maintained an eight to 10-point lead for most of the half and started the second half with an 11-6 run for a 16-point lead.

The Warriors outrebounded the Lancers, 19-15 in the first half, including 10 of the first 12 rebounds.

But in the second half, the Lancers outrebounded the Warriors, 19-10.

El Camino guard Jason Anthony fouled out of the game after scoring 11 points. Four other Warrior players had four fouls.