Owls Downed by Moorpark in Home Opener

Glendora, CA -- For much of their home opener against Moorpark College in first round of the 2014 Neil Edwards Classic, the Citrus College Men's Basketball team controlled their own destiny against an upstart  Moorpark College squad. The Owls led for all but just over two minutes of the contest, but the visiting Raiders led when it counted most, downing the Owls 80-77.

Citrus opened the game on a 14-3 run, with freshman Mark Williams and sophomore John Roach accounting for 9 of those first 14 points. Moorpark slowly worked their way back into the game though, tying the game up at 20-20 with just under eight minutes to go. Moments later the Raiders took their first lead 29-26, but a jumper by Roach, a pair of free-throws by freshman Jordan McNellys, and a vicious dunk by sophomore Chaunce Hill put the Owls back on top 32-29.

 Moorpark would pull back even in the final minute of the first half, but a jumper in the lane from sophomore Dominique Walker with three second left put Citrus up 41-39 at the break.

In the second half, the Owls maintained their lead, never leading by more than eight points. Moorpark would whittle that lead down to two with just under seven to go, but a conventional three point play by sophomore Justin Childress and a jumper by Williams put Citrus back up by five.

Moorpark didn't back down though, and tied the game up at 76 with 2:56 to go. Just over a minute later, the Raiders took their first lead of the half on a pair of shots from the charity stripe that made it 78-76. Walker would make it 78-77 after hitting the back end of two free-throws, but that would be all the scoring for the Owls with Moorpark getting another free throw with seconds left to give them the three point advantage.

In the loss, Citrus was paced by Roach's game high 19 points. Walker chipped in with 15, while Williams added 13. Walker also added a team high six assist with Williams hauling in a game high 11 boards.

With the loss, Citrus falls to 1-3 on the year. The Owls will take on Orange Coast College in the consolation semi-finals at 1:00 PM on Saturday.