SANTA ANA, Calif. (Interstat) — Aaron De Santiago scored 33 points to lead undefeated Santa Ana to a hard-fought 91-85 victory over Los Angeles Trade Tech in a California Community College men’s basketball game Friday night.

The Dons, who entered the game with a perfect 12-0 record, saw that mark challenged by a resilient Beavers squad that kept the pressure on throughout a high-scoring, fast-paced contest. Santa Ana improved to 13-0, while Los Angeles Trade Tech fell to 6-8.

The most critical phase of the game came in the final minute, as Santa Ana clung to a narrow lead. With the Dons ahead 89-87 and 24 seconds remaining, Santa Ana’s Christien Jimenez sank two crucial free throws to extend the lead to four. After a missed layup by Trade Tech’s Jordan Webster, the Beavers’ Will Smith III scored on a putback to cut the deficit to 91-89 with 17 seconds left.

Following a Santa Ana turnover, Webster was fouled on a three-point attempt with just five seconds on the clock and a chance to tie the game. He calmly made all three free throws, knotting the score at 91 and seemingly sending the game to overtime.

Santa Ana inbounded the ball quickly, and Jacob Arias drove for a layup with nine seconds remaining to put the Dons back ahead 93-91. Arias then fouled Webster on the ensuing inbound, sending him back to the line with another opportunity to tie. This time, Webster made only the first two free throws, missing the third intentionally. The rebound was secured by Santa Ana as time expired, preserving the dramatic victory.

De Santiago was the catalyst for Santa Ana, shooting efficiently from the field and the free-throw line. His scoring outburst provided the consistent offense the Dons needed to weather multiple rallies from the Beavers. Cameron Swist added 13 points and four assists for Santa Ana, while Joshua Garland contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Los Angeles Trade Tech was led by a 24-point performance from Jordan Webster, who also dished out three assists. Will Smith III recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Johnathan Gomez provided a significant spark off the bench, scoring 19 points, all in the first half, to keep the Beavers within striking distance.

Statistically, the game was a contrast in styles. Santa Ana’s offense was more efficient, scoring 91 points on 85 possessions for a rating of 106.6, compared to Trade Tech’s 98.2 rating. The Dons’ success from beyond the arc was a key differentiator, as they connected on 12 of 27 three-point attempts, while the Beavers made just 6 of 19. Santa Ana also took better care of the ball, committing 15 turnovers to Trade Tech’s 21.

The Beavers compensated by drawing more fouls and getting to the free-throw line frequently, making 29 of 37 attempts. Both teams finished with 40 total rebounds.

The win maintains Santa Ana’s perfect start to the season as they head into conference play. Los Angeles Trade Tech, despite the loss, showed resilience against one of the state’s top teams and will look to build on the performance in its upcoming schedule.