WALNUT, Calif. (Interstat) — Dayvon Gates delivered a dominant performance with 31 points and 10 assists, powering Mount San Antonio to a decisive 97-70 victory over Los Angeles Trade Tech in a men’s junior college basketball game Wednesday night.

The Mounties, improving to 21-4 overall, seized control early and never relented, avenging a tight overtime win against the same opponent just three weeks prior. The Beavers fell to 13-14.

The most critical stretch of the game came immediately after halftime. Leading 44-25 at the break, Mount San Antonio extinguished any hope of a Los Angeles Trade Tech rally by opening the second half on a 13-3 run. The surge was fueled by relentless defensive pressure and efficient offense, stretching the lead to 57-28 and effectively putting the game out of reach less than four minutes into the period. The Beavers could not cut the deficit below 20 points the rest of the way.

Gates was the catalyst throughout, adding four rebounds and a block to his double-double. He consistently broke down the defense, either finishing at the rim or drawing fouls, going 10 for 10 from the free-throw line. His backcourt partner, Zion Booker, provided strong support with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Will Smith III led Los Angeles Trade Tech with 23 points and six rebounds, while Franklyn Chambers added 16 points and eight assists. The Beavers, however, were overwhelmed by Mount San Antonio’s size and efficiency. The Mounties dominated the glass, outrebounding the Beavers 52-30, including an 18-8 advantage on the offensive boards that led to numerous second-chance opportunities.

Mount San Antonio’s offensive execution was superior, scoring 97 points on just 77 possessions for an offensive rating of 126.7. Los Angeles Trade Tech managed only 70 points on 76 possessions, an offensive rating of 92.4. The Mounties also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 30 of 37 attempts compared to the Beavers’ 18 of 29.

Alejandro Munoz provided a significant spark off the bench for Mount San Antonio with 12 points and five rebounds, all in the second half. Ethan Nelson added nine points.

The victory keeps Mount San Antonio in strong contention near the top of the conference standings as the regular season winds down. Los Angeles Trade Tech will look to rebound quickly, hosting East Los Angeles on Friday. Mount San Antonio travels to face Los Angeles City the same night.