SAN JACINTO, Calif. (Interstat) — Corey Mitchell scored 30 points and Mount San Jacinto used a decisive second-quarter surge and late free-throw shooting to beat visiting Southwestern 92-83 in a men’s junior college basketball game. Mount San Jacinto improved to 1-0, while Southwestern fell to 0-1. Mitchell, the Eagles’ top star, added six rebounds, one assist and one block in 30 minutes. Tres Luzey led Southwestern with 26 points, five rebounds and one assist in 34 minutes.

The Spartans opened with a 10-0 run and led 14-3 after Adam Chemsi converted two free throws. Southwestern maintained an early cushion behind Luzey and Aaron Owens, who finished with 21 points and nine rebounds. Camron Bellamy also scored early, and Maseyo Elliott made two free throws during the opening stretch. Mount San Jacinto began chipping away as Gor-El Zollicoffer and Daniel Crawford connected from beyond the arc. Crawford’s 3-pointer in the final minute of the first quarter cut Southwestern’s lead to 34-33.

Mount San Jacinto took control in the second quarter. After Luzey’s layup gave Southwestern a 36-33 edge, Zollicoffer answered with a layup and Caio Da Silva hit a 3-pointer that put the Eagles ahead 38-36. Mitchell then fueled the Eagles with baskets inside and from 3-point range. Quinton Skinner added a dunk, and Crawford’s 3-pointer helped Mount San Jacinto build a 59-50 lead.

Mount San Jacinto’s lead grew as Mitchell scored on consecutive possessions and Da Silva and Crawford each connected from deep. Southwestern stayed within reach through Owens’ work at the free-throw line and Bellamy’s baskets near the rim. Skinner’s dunk gave the Eagles a 67-57 advantage, and Mitchell’s 3-pointer made it 74-64. Southwestern answered with Keoni Henson’s free throw and layup, but Crawford’s jumper restored a nine-point cushion. The Eagles later stretched the margin to 82-69 on Mitchell’s dunk and Zollicoffer’s two free throws.

Mitchell powered Mount San Jacinto with 30 points, six rebounds, one assist and one block. Luzey paced Southwestern with 26 points, five rebounds and one assist. Crawford posted 17 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Owens contributed 21 points, nine rebounds and one assist. Skinner added 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Chemsi finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and one assist. Zollicoffer had 19 points, three rebounds and three assists. Elliott scored seven points with one rebound and one assist. Bellamy added 13 points and two rebounds. Rivera finished with two points and four rebounds.

Mount San Jacinto shot 32 of 69 from the floor, including 11 of 31 from 3-point range, and made 17 of 22 free throws. Southwestern shot 29 of 73 overall, 2 of 18 from beyond the arc and 23 of 31 from the line. Southwestern held a 46-40 rebounding advantage, including a 12-9 edge on the offensive glass. The Spartans recorded four assists to Mount San Jacinto’s two, committed 13 turnovers to the Eagles’ 14 and were whistled for 19 fouls to Mount San Jacinto’s 21. Southwestern scored 83 points on 89 possessions for an offensive rating of 93.5, while Mount San Jacinto scored 92 points on 84 possessions for an offensive rating of 108.9.

Southwestern pulled within 85-79 when Owens made two free throws after Chemsi’s layup and Luzey’s two free throws, but Mount San Jacinto answered at the line. Mitchell made free throws, Crawford added one, and Mitchell converted two more to keep the Eagles in control. Stephen Castleberry’s layup and free throw pushed the lead to 92-81 before Owens closed the scoring with two free throws.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected Mount San Jacinto to win 79-70, and its ELO system gave the Eagles a 64 percent probability of victory. Southwestern next hosts Desert. Mount San Jacinto next plays at San Diego City.