ORANGE, Calif. (Interstat) — The Santiago Canyon Hawks dominated from the opening tip, cruising to a 93-66 victory over the Long Beach Vikings in a California Community College Athletic Association men’s basketball game Wednesday night.

The Hawks established control with a blistering first-quarter offensive display, outscoring the Vikings 44-32. The tone was set immediately as Santiago Canyon’s Ryan Weber scored on the game’s first possession. A three-pointer from Matt Mendias just over a minute into play pushed the early lead to 8-0, forcing a quick Long Beach timeout. The Hawks’ efficient offense, coupled with persistent defensive pressure, prevented the Vikings from ever mounting a sustained challenge.

Santiago Canyon’s offensive execution was the story of the game. The Hawks shot 49 percent from the floor and connected on 11 three-pointers, while Long Beach struggled mightily, making only 1 of 10 attempts from beyond the arc and just 32 percent of its shots overall. The Hawks also commanded the glass, outrebounding the Vikings 49-35.

The most important segment of the game was Santiago Canyon’s initial surge. The early 8-0 run, highlighted by Weber’s quick layups and Mendias’ three-pointer, forced Long Beach into a reactive posture from which it never recovered. The Vikings’ offense, reliant on drives from Kamron Fontenot and Lawrence Brown, was met with consistent resistance, leading to a series of missed shots that fueled the Hawks’ transition game. This early deficit compounded Long Beach’s shooting woes and allowed Santiago Canyon to play with confidence and pace throughout the contest.

Chico Lopez led a balanced and potent Hawks attack with 18 points and 11 rebounds, showcasing a significant uptick in production after quieter performances in recent games. He was one of five Santiago Canyon players to score in double figures. Mendias also scored 18 points, Cayden Hong added 16 points and five assists, Ryan Weber contributed 13 points, and Jacob De Armas posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

For Long Beach, Kamron Fontenot led all scorers with 20 points. Lawrence Brown added 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists, but the Vikings’ offense lacked the fluidity and shooting to keep pace.

With the win, Santiago Canyon improved its season record to 8-3. Long Beach fell to 3-9. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Santiago Canyon entered the game with a 97.5 percent probability to win.

Santiago Canyon travels to face Los Angeles Harbor on Friday. Long Beach hosts Ventura on the same night.