The Lower Columbia men's basketball team is in a race to the finish to collect another West Region championship.  A potentially damaging home loss was looming when Green River took an 11 point lead with just over nine minutes left in the game.

But LCC turned up the defensive intensity while going on a 28-2 game ending run to come away with a 66-51 victory over the Gators.  It was a remarkable finish that kept the Devils in a tie for first place with South Puget Sound. Both teams are 11-1 with two games to play.

It wasn't looking good.  But the Gators were held without a field goal in the final run.  Green River could muster just two free throws down the stretch.

Samaad Hector led Lower Columbia with 13 points and 13 rebounds.  The board work elevated Hector to number two on the LCC all-time single-season rebounding list, passing Mark Herold.  Herold was in attendance at the game to watch Hector do his work.  Hector has 397 rebounds this season and is 14 shy of the single season record of 411 held by Nate Lewis back in the 1983 season.  Hector has 681 career rebounds and is 26 short of the 707 record held by Herold.

Alexis Angeles cranked up his game during the Devil explosion at the end.  Angeles had 13 points including 7 of 9 free throws.  Travis Patrick was also a key as he ended up with 12 points and six rebounds including a monster slam that all but sealed the victory and had the crowd of over 500 jumping up from their seats.

Point guard Cody Young had six points, nine rebounds and five assists.  Louden Wardius, Taylor Pomeroy and Jonah Crumpton-Murray had six points each.

Tanner Nygren had 17 to lead the Gators.

The final home game of the season is this Saturday February 22nd as the Devils host the Pierce Raiders.  Game time is 7 pm.  Prior to the game the seven sophomores will be honored as part of Sophomore Night.