Bakersfield College men’s basketball team lost to Santa Monica College because of too many turnovers in the first half.

BC lost to Santa Monica 69-63 on Jan. 28 and dropped to a 2-5 record in the Western State Conference.

The game was a tale of two halves for BC. In the first, BC wasn’t able to really attack Santa Monica’s zone and turned the ball over nine times. In the second, they started to find easy shots and only turned the ball over three times.

“Our report against them was not turning the ball over, and we had too many turnovers in the first. That’s where we lost the game,” said BC coach Rich Hughes.

BC got a good game from freshman forward Conroy Lester, who had 17 points and 15 rebounds. BC also got 13 points from freshman guard Duncan Schramm.

BC started the game well getting an early 19-18 lead by being the agressor and attacking.

Then Santa Monica changed their defense and started to force turnovers.

“They started to play a matchup zone and we just didn’t attack it really well,” said Hughes.

BC struggled to get any easy points, and Santa Monica was able to go on a 21 to three run to take a 39-22 into the second half.

BC got back in the game by going on a 14-4 run to start the second half.

“We made an adjustment on our zone offense and we got ourselves back in the game,” said Hughes.

BC was able to get back in the game, but every time they got within six, Santa Monica would push the lead back to double-digits. BC tried to make one last run, but the first half deficit ended up being too big for them to overcome.

Hughes commented on what he expects for the rest of the season.

“I just want us to keep getting better each game, don’t give up and keep competing. With most of the team being freshmen, hopefully they can continue to get better,” he said.

Lester commented on the game.

“I think we came out slow and got down in the first half, but we came out in the second half and fought hard. We started getting the ball inside the middle of their zone in the second half, but we just turned the ball over way too much in the first, and it cost us this game,” said Lester. “I think I did okay, but I think I could’ve done better job finishing at the rim and making my free throws.

“Hopefully we can get stronger as a team, practice hard and hopefully it will help us in these last five games,” he said.

BC is scheduled to play at Glendale on Feb. 1.