PASCO - No team is going to outwork Moses Lake this season.

Down 15 points entering halftime, the Chiefs clawed their way back behind a team-high 20 points from sophomore center Cesar Sandoval and escaped Pasco with a 78-77 win. Head coach John Hohman's team improved to 5-2 overall after the non-league win.

The Chiefs were able to regroup at halftime and rallied to outscore the Bulldogs 27-19 in the third quarter and 22-14 in the final stanza.

"We just were very honest with each other I think and kind of said what had to happen," Hohman said. "To their credit they came out, you know, crazy."

Along with Sandoval, the tandem of juniors Derek Martinez and Tyson Karstetter combined for 32 points. Karstetter also lead Moses Lake with eight rebounds.

Moses Lake will travel to face Hermiston Jan. 4 before entering the bulk of its Columbia Basin Big 9 schedule.

"Hermiston's going to be a huge test, especially down there," Hohman said. "That's a tough environment to play in and they're a good team."

Pasco's Devauriay Robinson scored a game-high 33 points in the loss for the Bulldogs.