With two minutes left in the game, an East Los Angeles College player takes the ball out of bounds leading EC by two. The Warriors’ suffocating defense on the inbound makes the inbounding player start to panic.

Timeout.

ELAC takes the ball out again. This time they get the ball inbounds and start to dribble toward half-court, attempting to fight off EC’s full court press.

One desperation pass and…

Turnover.

Despite a pestering defense throughout an impressive second half, the EC Warriors men’s basketball team (6-13, 2-2) ultimately fell one point shy of defeating the East Los Angeles College Huskies (13-9, 3-3), as a 15-point halftime deficit proved too difficult to overcome.

The Huskies ended up winning the game 77-76. It was the third straight loss for the Warriors and the fifth loss in their last six games.

EC freshman guard Christopher Munoz led the team with 18 points, including six 3-pointers. Sophomore guard Derrick Twiggs did his part as well, contributing 17 points and going 8-12 from the free-throw line.

The Warriors found themselves down 30-45 at the break following a slow start that saw the Huskies jump out to a 19-8 lead out of the gate.

“We came out and weren’t energetic,” EC freshman forward Momo Nwodili explained.

The effort – particularly defensively – of the EC players was much improved following a halftime that featured an impassioned speech by coach Robert Uphoff.

“The halftime speech was pretty good for us and we just picked up the defensive intensity,” said EC freshman forward Dreymon Jones regarding the difference between the two halves.

This new-found defensive intensity allowed the Warriors to claw back into the game, ultimately tying the game at 76 with seven seconds remaining before ELAC hit the second of two free throws to make the score 76-77. A last second EC heave was off target as the comeback fell seconds short.

“We’re the Warriors,” Nwodili claimed regarding the current losing streak, “I honestly don’t think we can’t come back from this.”

The Warriors’ comeback bid was spearheaded by their defensive pressure, as they forced 33 Huskie turnovers. Twiggs and freshman forward Kane Wildermuth led the effort with four steals apiece.

“The sacrifice that they gave on the defensive end and being able to lock in and get turnovers: that’s what got us back in the game,” said EC assistant coach Jared Waters.

The Warriors travel to play Mt. SAC (21-1, 4-0) Wednesday Feb. 4 at 5 p.m. in an attempt to upset the No. 5 ranked Mounties.