Passing Another Test
Glendora, CA - With their 2015-2016 season on the line, the Citrus College Men's Basketball team was able to pass another test on Saturday night when they hosted Los Angeles Valley College. The Owls led by as much as 18 points on the night, but held off a late Monarch charge for a 78-65 victory.
The Owls would score the game's first four points, on buckets from sophomores Mark Williams and Ryan Wiley as Citrus never let LA Valley tie the game or have a lead. Despite that fact, the Monarchs made it a game, but Citrus had their number early.
After the 4-0 start, the Monarchs got a triple that made it 3-4, but the Owls went on a 11-0 run to take a big early lead. The run was started by freshman Kenneth Cyprian who hit a three, and ended on another Cyprian three that made it 15-3.
The Owls would push their lead to as much as 15 points late in the first after a jumper by sophomore Mark Williams made it 34-19 with 6:00 to go. The Owls would hit just one more basket the rest of the first half though, while LA Valley finished on a 14-2 run to go into the break trailing the Owls by just three points 33-36.
Citrus would come out the break looking the team who built up the early lead, starting off the second half with a 17-2 run. Once again Wiley would score the half's opening basket, while sophomore Maxime Tondre hit a pair of free-throws with 14:33 to go that made it 53-33 with 14:33 to go.
The Owls would do their best to keep the Monarchs at bay, keeping their lead in double-digit territory until a three by LA Valley with 4:37 to go put the Monarchs down seven. The Owls would answer with the front end of two free-throws by freshman Latrelle Franklin, but Valley would continue to chip away cutting the Citrus advantage down to four with 1:37 after another huge three.
Citrus responded in the best way possible though getting a three from Cyprian, his first since the 12:19 mark in the first half, that put Citrus back up seven. The Owls would go on to get a stop and then four straight free-throws from sophomore Caleb Richey and two more from Cyprian to close the game out and reach their final 13 point lead.
Williams led all scorers with 19 points and added a game high 11 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double and his ninth in WSC South play. Cyprian added 17, while Richey had 12 a season high eight rebounds to go along with four assists.
With the win, Citrus improves to 13-12 overall and 7-5 in WSC South play. The Owls continue their quest for a post-season berth on Wednesday with another tough test when they travel to Glendale College for a 7:00 PM tip-off.