Citrus Wins Consolation Title

Glendora, CA -- For the second straight tournament, the Citrus College Men's Basketball team wrapped up their weekend with a consolation prize. The Owls defeated San Diego City College in the Consolation Championship of their home hosted tournament, the Neil Edwards Classic, on Sunday 82-64.

The game would be close for the majority of the first half, with Citrus taking the lead less than four minutes into the contest with San Diego City breathing down the Owls' neck for the rest of the first half. The Knights would tie the game up as late as 3:19 left in the half at 31-31, but Citrus closed the half on a 10-0 run, capped off by a three from the corner off the hands of freshman Jevion Roland at the buzzer that put Citrus up 41-31 at the half.

Citrus opened up the second half with a 18-5 run that sophomore Steven Thornton Jr. put an exclamation point on with a pair of free-throws that made it 54-36 with 14:44 to go in the game. The Owls would keep their distance from the Knights the rest of the way with San Diego City only get as close as 13 points with 2:43 to go. That would be the last time City would score though, as the Owls got a three from Roland and a pair of free-throws from freshman Darius Middleton that gave the Owls their 18 point victory down the stretch.

Sophomore Kerry Carter scored 17 points on the day for Citrus, despite not having his best shooting night of the year. Roland finished with a season high 14 points off the bench for the Owls, while sophomore Brent Watkins ripped down a game high 13 rebounds to go with 8 points. Middleton handed out a game high 10 assists, and sophomore Jordan Mackie added 10 points. It was Thornton though who led the way for Citrus as he scored a game high 25 points and blocked four shots. For his efforts, Thornton was named to the All-Tournament team.

With the win, Citrus improves to 4-3 on the season. The Owls will be back at it on Wednesday when they head west to take on El Camino College Compton Center (5-1) on the El Camino College Compton Center campus (formerly Compton College). Tip-off is set for 5:00 PM.