Panthers Hold Off Cerritos in Tight Season Opener

The Chaffey College men's basketball team tipped off the 2025–26 season in impressive fashion on Friday evening, earning an 85-84 victory over Cerritos College inside the Sports Center and giving interim head coach Mateu Vilakazi a memorable win in his Chaffey debut. The Panthers showcased dynamic perimeter shooting, balanced scoring and composure in key late-game moments to secure the one-point victory on opening night.

Chaffey came out sharp in the first half, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and knocking down five three-pointers to stay within reach, entering halftime trailing 45-36 after Cerritos capitalized on early interior scoring. Kameron Gardner and Christian Walton sparked the early offense, combining for 19 first-half points and keeping the Panthers close despite the Falcons' strong start.

The Panthers flipped the momentum in the second half with energetic ball pressure, improved rebounding and efficient perimeter shooting. Chaffey erupted for 49 second-half points, shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three after the break. Semaj Morrison and Avery Garcia combined for 28 points, while Gardner added timely scoring on drives and catch-and-shoot looks from the wing.

Morrison led all scorers with 23 points on an efficient 7-for-11 from the field, including five made threes, and added two assists and a steal in 31 minutes. Gardner followed closely with 16 points, four made threes, four steals, and four assists, providing critical two-way energy throughout the night. Walton added 14 points, shooting 5-for-8 from the floor while contributing two steals defensively.

Garcia delivered a strong offensive performance with 10 points, seven assists, and was 3-for-6 in free throws in 23 minutes. Eric Shepard added five points and two blocks off the bench, while Colin Ingram contributed four points and four rebounds to steady the frontcourt.

As a team, Chaffey shot 44.4 percent from the field and a sharp 43.3 percent from three, knocking down 13 total threes to overwhelm the Falcons in key stretches. The Panthers also produced 18 bench points, registered 12 steals and forced Cerritos into 17 turnovers. These swings proved decisive in a tightly contested game.

The Panthers will now look to carry their momentum into their first road contest of the season, traveling to face Santa Ana College on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m.