ORANGE, Calif. (Interstat) — The Santiago Canyon Hawks remained undefeated Wednesday night, overcoming a strong first-half challenge from the Mount San Antonio Mounties to secure an 82-75 victory in a non-conference men’s junior college basketball game.

In a contest defined by a dramatic shift in momentum after halftime, the Hawks improved to 5-0 while the Mounties fell to 4-2.

Santiago Canyon used a dominant second-half performance to erase a halftime deficit. After trailing 41-33 at the break, the Hawks outscored the Mounties 49-34 over the final 20 minutes. The comeback was fueled by a more efficient offense and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch.

The Hawks scored 82 points on just 79 possessions, posting an offensive rating of 103.8. The Mounties, by contrast, managed 75 points from 82 possessions for an offensive rating of 92.0. Santiago Canyon’s advantage at the free-throw line was decisive; they made 17 of 21 attempts, while Mount San Antonio converted only 12 of 20.

Despite the loss, Mount San Antonio’s Dayvon Gates delivered a standout performance, leading all players with 22 points and 12 rebounds. He also added five assists.

The Hawks’ victory was a balanced effort. Jacob De Armas led the team with 16 points, while Salim Semaan and Chico Lopez each contributed 15 points. Semaan added nine rebounds and Lopez recorded three blocks. Paris Lassiter filled the stat sheet with nine points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

The game was a tale of two halves statistically. While Mount San Antonio shot 44 percent from the floor in the first half to build their lead, their shooting cooled significantly after the break. For the game, the Mounties shot 3 for 16 from three-point range. Santiago Canyon found more success from deep, hitting 7 of 21 attempts.

Both teams were nearly even in several categories, with Santiago Canyon holding a slight 41-39 edge in total rebounds. Each team recorded 11 offensive rebounds, nine steals, and seven blocks. Turnovers were also close, with the Mounties committing 15 and the Hawks 14.

The win extends Santiago Canyon’s perfect start to the season, while Mount San Antonio will look to rebound in its next contest.