The men’s basketball team won its first conference game in a home contest against Los Angeles Southwest on Jan. 9.

Russ May, head coach for the Falcons, said that his team was focused after the team’s loss against Bakersfield the previous Wednesday.

“I was very happy with our player’s mental concentration after the loss,” May said. “I think we (were) really concentrated and focused.”

The first half was a duel on both sides with the Falcons ending the half at 41-39.

Micah Winn, guard for the Falcons, said that he had to thank Forward Jeff Gonzales for leading his team in the first half.

Gonzales would end up with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks for the game.

The biggest lead the Falcons had in the first half was five points. However, things would change as the difference maker would come in the second half.

The Falcons held the Cougars to 0-6 shooting from the three-point line, the team would finish 2-14 the three-point line.

The Cougars finished off the second half shooting the ball less effectively, shooting 35.5% compared to the 43.8% the team shot in the first half, according to the Cerritosfalcons.com.

Winn said that the Falcons defense was what made the team win the game.

“We started to lock people down on defense, we started getting easy baskets and grinding it out,” Winn said.

Winn would lead all scorers with 24 points of a 9-19 shooting.

May said that the big key to winning down the stretch came from his players Josh Bell and Jay Merriweather.

Bell, forward for the Falcons, led the team with 13 rebounds, six of those coming off the glass.

Guard Jay Merriweather scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half.

The next conference game for the Falcons will face off against El Camino College away from home on Jan. 14. at 7 p.m.