Collins Hits Leaning Jumper in Final Seconds to Defeat Last Chance U’s East Los Angeles

With just 20 seconds remaining and the Tigers down by one point, a broken inbound play almost cost them the game against the East Los Angeles College Huskies in the final day of the 49^th Annual Riverside Holiday Classic.

Sophomore point guard Melvin Walker handled the inbound play and surveyed the court with poise. The Huskies made it difficult to inbound the ball as they tipped the ball twice, but were unable to corral the loose ball.  It was eventually tipped into the back court from freshman forward Robert Ayala and recovered by sophomore guard Edwyn Collins.

From then on, it was Collins who had the offense under his wing.

He crossed the ball over half court and utilized an on ball screen from sophomore forward Amir Davis, but was immediately met by an East LA defender. He dribbled back out and passed the ball to Ayala, who was double-teamed, and then received a direct pass back.

He gathered and dribbled left only to be trailed by a Huskie defender in great position. Collins planted and pump faked which sent the defender soaring past. He followed by rising up and banking a leaning jumper off the glass leading to a 71-70 victory.

After not starting the in the first four games, Collins earned his way back into the starting five and look to be settled back into the role. He finished the night with 16 points acting as his second-strongest mark of the year so far. He flirted with a double-double by adding eight rebounds, four assist and three steals.

Ayala was the leading scorer for the Tigers after dropping 18 points to go along with four rebounds and two blocks. Davis followed with 11 boards which was a game high, while Walker dropped 11 points.

East LA, who is featured on the Netflix original series Last Chance U, performed better in all categories but turnovers. They coughed the rock up three more times than the Tigers. In the end, Riverside only took advantage of the turnovers for five points. East LA Also only hit four three pointers, while the Tigers buried 12 of them.

The game featured three ties and nine lead changes. With the final lead change deciding the end result.