BALTIMORE, Md. – The Baltimore City Community College men's basketball team posted a 78-57 win over CCBC-Essex on Wednesday at the BCCC P.E. Center. BCCC improved to 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the MD JUCO conference with the win.

Essex fell to 5-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

Carlos Smith (Baltimore, Md./Forest Park HS) scored 12 of his game-high 16 total points in the first half. The Panthers controlled the game on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball and took a 36-23 lead into halftime.

BCCC quickly increased the lead to 19, 42-23, and did not look back the rest of the way.

Theo West (Philadelphia, Pa./Kensington HS) added 14 points and six rebounds and Xavier Drake (Baltimore, Md./Millford Mill HS) had 10 points and three assists. Zafir Williams (Philadelphia, Pa./Vaux HS) just missed a double-double with 10 assists and nine points. Smith grabbed seven rebounds.

The Panthers return to action on Friday in the first game of the 2011 Ben Williams Classic. BCCC takes on Potomac State College at 4 p.m.