Long Beach City College had just hit one of two free throws to extend their lead to three with 4.2 seconds left on the clock.

EC freshman forward Malik Wildermuth takes the inbound pass and frantically dribbles down the court. With time running out, he rises up and releases a shot.

The shot hits nothing but the bottom of the net.

Wildermuth immediately collapses to the floor after he realizes his shot was not only too late but released from inside the three point line.

This disappointment was just a small amount of the letdown the Warriors felt after a loss in which they led for the large majority of the game.

The EC men’s basketball team (7-15, 3-3) allowed the Long Beach City College Vikings (19-5, 5-0) to overcome a nine-point halftime deficit en route to Wednesday’s 67-64 comeback win.

“I’m disappointed for my team and even somewhat in my team,” said Warriors coach Robert Uphoff after the game.

The game marked the eighth loss in the Warriors’ last ten games as the team’s playoff hopes take a big hit with every defeat.

“This kind of knocks us off of first place, but we’re trying to get second place in the conference right now,” said EC freshman forward Kane Wildermuth.

Malik Wildermuth also has little hope regarding the Warriors earning a playoff spot. “It’s out sophomores’… last chance to get in the playoffs and I wish we could give them the chance,” he stated, “Now we need a miracle for it to happen.”

The Warriors held a commanding lead over the Vikings for most of the game. They had led most of the first half and the entire second half until LBCC took a 62-61 lead with 1:35 remaining in the game.

Kane Wildermuth led the team with 20 points as well as 9 rebounds. EC freshman forward Emmanuel Pope contributed a double-double to the Warriors’ effort with 10 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds. Malik Wildermuth also made an all-around impact with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and a game-high 5 assists.

The Warriors came out of the gate with relentless energy on both ends of the floor: moving the ball on offense and limiting LBCC to 23 first half points on 37.5% shooting.

Wednesday’s game was also the Coaches vs Cancer game and all proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

The Warriors’ next game will be at Cerritos College (10-16, 3-3) Friday Feb. 13 at 5 p.m.

To learn more about the Coaches vs Cancer program read here: https://eccunion.com/basketball/2015/01/28/coaches-vs-cancer-fundraiser-to-be-held-at-home-basketball-game/