Role Reversal

Lancaster, CA -- For the first 20 minutes of play Saturday night at State #9 Antelope Valley College, the Citrus College Men's Basketball team did something they hadn't really done all year long. The Owls came out swinging and put their host and opponent for the night on their heels taking a 50-38 lead into halftime. The roles were unfortunately reversed in the second half though, as Antelope Valley outscored the Owls by 20 in the final 20 minutes of play in an 89-97 loss for the Owls.

The game couldn't have gotten off to a better start for Citrus. The Owls scored the game's first 10 points getting a pair of treys from freshman Kenneth Cyprian and sophomore Caleb Richey sandwiched by a pair of field goals from Richey and sophomore Ryan Wiley.

Citrus would keep applying pressure to the Antelope offense, not allowing them to reach the 10 point threshold until nearly eight minutes had gone by, and extending their lead to as much as 18 points 39-21 with 6:08 to go after another Wiley bucket. After a timeout by Antelope Valley, the Marauders would close the half by outscoring Citrus 17-11, but the Owls had made a statement with easily their best offensive half of basketball this season.

The Marauders needed just three possessions to open up the second half and reduce the Owls lead to under 10 points. Citrus would do their best to keep Antelope at arm's length, but the Marauders eventually overtook the Owls at the 12 minute mark 65-63 after a three pointer by Cory Dollarhide who caught fire for Antelope in the second half.

Citrus would do their best to battle back, tying the game up at 76-76 after a pair of free-throws by Cyprian. The Owls would even take the lead back briefly on their next possession thanks to a jumper by Richey. Antelope would tie the game up again soon thereafter, but sophomore Mark Williams would give the Owls the lead once again with 4:37 to go. The Marauders would regain the lead after scores on back to back possessions that made it 82-80, but the Owls weren't ready to give in yet, getting a huge triple by Richey with 3:04 to go to make it 83-82.

That would be the last time Citrus led though as Antelope answered with a three of their own on their very next trip down the floor. The Owls would try to get back in the game, but had a turnover and a pair of missed attempts from the floor, while Antelope went 7 of 8 from the charity stripe in the final 48 seconds.

In the loss, Wiley would finish with a team high 21 points to go with a team high 12 boards for his fifth double-double of the year. Williams added 10 and 10 for his seconds straight and fifth double-double overall as well. Cyprian added 18, while Richey had 16 and a team high four assists.

With the loss, Citrus drops to 6-9 overall and 0-2 in WSC South play. The road doesn't get any easier for Citrus as they will hit the pavement again on Wednesday to take on an athletic and always dangerous team in SoCal #14 Santa Monica College. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM in Santa Monica.