Streak Comes To An End For Owls In OT

Santa Clarita, CA -- The Citrus College Men's Basketball team's three game winning streak came to an end on Saturday afternoon, but it took overtime for it to do so. College of the Canyons, who is the highest ranked WSC South team in the coaches' poll, downed the Owls in extra time 81-77.

The game would be tight from the tip, with each team taking the lead from the other early, before the Owls grabbed the biggest early lead of eight after a three ball from freshman Terrell Todd made it 20-12 with 11:43 left in the first half. Canyons would cut into the lead, but the Owls clung to it all the way until the final seconds of the half when the Cougars hit a three pointer that made it 36-36 at the half.

In the second half, it was a role reversal as Canyons grabbed the lead early and hung onto it for most of the half. Still it was close throughout. The Cougars' largest lead would be eight points when they took a 64-56 lead with 4:24 on the clock.

Citrus slowly worked their way back into the game, closing the contest 12-4 run. Freshman Darius Middleton would get Citrus to within one after he hit the back end of a pair of free-throws to make it 68-69 with 1:30 to go. On Canyons' next possession, Middleton then stole the ball and went the distance of the court for a layup to give their first lead of the half 70-69.

Canyons would tie the game back up when they got one of two free-throws with 58 seconds to go, but neither team hit their chances in their final few possessions as the game went into overtime. Canyons would lead the entire overtime period.

Citrus would lean heavily on Middleton in the last part of overtime, as he hit a jumper to cut the Cougars lead to three with 20 seconds left and then a big three with four seconds left to cut it to two. The Owls would never get any closer though as Canyons hit all of their free-throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Sophomore Steven Thornton Jr. led Citrus with a team high 21 points. Middleton finished with 16 and six assists, while sophomore Gregory Sequele had his first double-double of the year with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

With the loss, Citrus falls to 8-7 on the year and 1-1 in WSC South play. The Owls will be back home on Wednesday when they host LA Valley College in another conference title. Tip is set for 5:00 PM.