Playoff Preview: Citrus at Mt. San Jacinto Round #3

A preview of tonight's California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Men's Basketball Playoff Round #3 meeting between #3 Mt. San Jacinto College and #11 Citrus College tonight at 7:00 PM.

About Tonight's Match-Up

Tonight's game is the fifth meeting between both Mt. San Jacinto College and Citrus College since the 2005-2006 season. The overall series sits at 2-2 for both schools, with the Owls winning the first two contests and the Eagles taking the more recent pair of games, including an 84-83 victory during Citrus' first week of the season. Freshman Chris Reyes had 15 points in that game as did freshman Justin Childress. Freshman John Roach came off the bench to score 21 points. For Mt. San Jacinto Dewayne Benjamin had 29 points.

About the Eagles
Mt. San Jacinto College made the move from the Foothill Conference into the Pacific Coast Conference this past off-season and promptly began to make waves by splitting the Pacific Coast Conference North Division Championship with Grossmont College. The Eagles went 24-4 during the regular season, including a 7-1 record in PCC North play. Mt. San Jacinto's lone setback was a 67-74 loss to Grossmont College in their regular season finale. Despite the final loss, the Eagles were granted the #3 seed in the South and they hosted #19 Ventura College in the second round. Mt. San Jacinto made quick work of things with a 45-22 lead at the break en route to a 78-56 victory over the visiting Pirates.

The Eagles boast a deep squad paced by State Player of the Year candidate in sophomore guard Dewayne Benjamin who averages 21.2 points a game on 44.2% shooting from the floor and a team leading 8 boards a game. Sophomore guard Dajuan Smith averages 14.1 points a game, and freshman forward Sam Williams averages just over 10 points a game. As a team, the Eagles are 7th in the entire CCCAA in offensive boards a game, averaging 15.3 rebounds a contest, and are 7th in opponents field goal percentage allowed, as they've held their opponents to just 39% shooting from the floor.

Last Time Out
The Owls opened up their 2014 Post-Season with a big upset of #6 East Los Angeles College 86-81 in double overtime. Citrus led for nearly the entirety of regulation with the Huskies tying the game up for the first time with 1:16 to go. In the first overtime, East Los Angeles got their first lead of the game, and the Owls trailed by two with just over a minute and a half to go. With 14 seconds left, freshman Dominique Walker hit a layup while falling to the floor to send the game into a second overtime. In the second overtime freshman Steven Polee Jr. got to play the role of the hero putting Citrus back on top for good with a three from the top of the key with just over a minute to play.

#11 Seeds Through History
Since the 2006 season, #11 seeds are 7-6 in the Southern California playoffs. #11 seeds have had second round upsets in four out of the last nine seasons, and have advanced to the Regional Finals three times, and to the State Championships twice. The two teams to advance to the State Championships both came in the era in which four teams from both the North and South advanced to the State Championships (Bakersfield College in 2008 and Long Beach City College in 2006). The last team to win in the regional semi-finals and advance to the regional finals was oddly enough Mt. San Jacinto College back in the 2011 season. That year the Eagles defeated Riverside in the second round, LA Harbor in the third round, before falling to Saddleback in the Regional Finals.

Common Opponents
Citrus College and Mt. San Jacinto College shared four common opponents and each played five games total against those four common opponents. The Owls and Eagles both play Antelope Valley, East Los Angeles, San Diego City, and Ventura College this year. Citrus is a combined 4-1 against those teams, while Mt. San Jacinto has gone 3-2.  

How To Follow
Tonight's game can be followed live in person or online through Twitter. @ccfightingowls will have live updates on Twitter throughout the contest. If you wish to attend in person atMt. San Jacinto College tickets will be $10 for general admission or $7 for all identified students, faculty, staff, senior citizens age 60 and over, and children less than 12 years of age. Parking will be free, but the Mt. San Jacinto College administration expects there to be a large turnout so get there early.