Lions Dominate In Season-Opener

The De Anza College men's basketball team tipped off the 2025-26 season in impressive fashion, powering past Solano College with a commanding 119-87 home victory.

The Mountain Lions exploded out of the gate, scoring 65 points in the first half and never looking back. De Anza shot a blistering 56.6% from the field, including a steady 75% from the free-throw line, as 10 different players found their way onto the scoreboard.

Sophomore forward Theo McDowell led the way with a dominant double-double performance — 31 points and 11 rebounds — while connecting on 9 of 13 field goals and 13 of 16 free throws. His physical play in the paint and efficiency from the line anchored the Lions' offensive rhythm throughout the contest.

Freshman guard Gio Brovelli provided a spark off the bench, pouring in 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Mehki Thomas and Dasan Poston added 14 and 12 points respectively, each contributing on both ends of the floor.

The Mountain Lions displayed exceptional teamwork, finishing with 23 assists on 43 made field goals. Floor general Isaac Sisay led the team with five assists, while Poston and Thomas combined for seven. De Anza also won the rebounding battle, pulling down 45 boards compared to Solano's 36.

On the defensive side, De Anza forced 15 steals and capitalized on turnovers for fast-break points. McDowell and Brovelli each collected multiple steals, while the team collectively limited Solano to 40% shooting from the field and just 26% from three-point range.

Top Performers:

• Theo McDowell: 31 pts, 11 reb, 13-16 FT
• Gio Brovelli: 21 pts, 3-5 3FG
• Mehki Thomas: 14 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast
• Dasan Poston: 12 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast
• Team: 56.6% FG, 75.0% FT, +9 rebounding margin

UP NEXT: The Lions will host Cuesta on Tuesday (6:00pm).