Tryptophan and Turnovers

Glendora, CA -- For the third time in four seasons, the Citrus College Men's Basketball team opened up their annual Thanksgiving Tournament, the Neil Edwards Classic, with a loss. Whether it was a tryptophan hangover from their respective turkey days, or just an inability to keep in the game, the Owls turned the ball over 22 times, turning into 32 points for visiting Victor Valley in a 71-74 loss to the Rams.

Citrus would run out and take the lead early, getting back to back buckets in the paint by sophomore Ryan Wiley and a three from sophomore point guard Caleb Richey to go up 7-2. Victor Valley would settle in shortly thereafter, and the Owls were never able to really distance themselves from the Rams in the first half.

Victor Valley would even briefly take a 22-20 lead with 6:30 left in the first half, but the Owls came right back getting a conventional three-point play from sophomore Jordan McNellys and back to back three points from sophomore Mark Williams and Jeriko Santos to go back up 29-22. The Owls would keep that momentum moving forward, using another small run before the half to go into the break leading 40-29.

Citrus would do their best to keep the Rams at arms length, but a 10-0 run by Victor Valley early in the second half put them within three and right back in the game. The Rams would regain their first lead at the midway point in the final frame when a tip-in made it 54-53 with 10:35 to go. It took five straight points from Santos to give the Owls back the lead, but it wouldn't last as it became a back and forth game at the point for Citrus and Victor Valley.

The Rams would regain the lead with 7:42 to go and wouldn't give it back until the final minutes. Freshman Calvin Martin would pull the Owls to within one with a three-point hustle play, and moments later a steal by McNellys led to a three from freshman Kenneth Cyprian to make it 71-69 with 2:11 left. Citrus would turn the ball over though on their next two possessions, while the Rams got a jumper to tie the game up at 71 with 54 seconds to go and a three from the right corner with 20 seconds left for the final dagger.

With the loss, Citrus drops to 4-3 on the season and into the consolation semi-finals of their home hosted tournament. The Owls will be taking on El Camino College-Compton Center in that match-up at 1:00 PM in the Owls' Nest.