MBK Playoff Preview: #18 Citrus College at #15 Palomar College - Round #1

A preview of the opening round match-up between #18 Citrus College and #15 Palomar College in the 2016 California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Playoffs on Wednesday February 24th at 7:00 PM. 

 About the Match-Up

Wednesday night's contest between the Owls and Comets will be the fifth meeting between the two schools since the 2005-2006 season. In that span, Citrus is 3-1 against Palomar, winning last two against the Comets, but the two schools haven't squared off since the 2008-2009 season. Citrus' lone loss against Palomar was also the only time the two schools have played in San Marcos in that span, a 63-67 victory by the Comets back during the 2006-2007 season. 

About the Comets

Palomar heads into the 2016 post-season after a very strong 2015-2016 campaign that saw the Comets go 17-10 overall and 5-3 in the Pacific Coast Conference North Division, finishing in second place behind, SoCal #5 seed Mt. San Jacinto College. It's the Comets' fifth post-season appearance under John O'Neill who is in his 13th season as Head Coach. 

The Comets boast four players who are averaging double-digit scoring nights paced by sophomore Deven Riley (14.3 ppg). Riley is also the team's second leading rebounder grabbing six boards a game, and is the team's leading assist man at 3.9 per game. Sophomore Ryan Schaefer is second on the team at 13.4 ppg and leads the team with 2.6 threes per game, hitting them at a 37.5% clip. Freshman forward Spencer Benson is third on the team at 12.3 ppg and leads the team in 3-point% at 39.5%. Sophomore center Matt Duniphan rounds out the top four at 12.1 ppg, on a team leading 67.1% shooting from the floor, and adding a team best 7.9 rebounds per contest.

About the Owls

Citrus heads into the 2016 post-season after an up and down 2015-2016 regular season campaign. The Owls undoubtedly took on a tough pre-conference schedule, with 9 of their 13 games coming against teams who are also in the post-season in 2016. 

Still the Owls finished their pre-conference slate just 6-7 and watched as a three game losing streak turned into a six game slide after they started off WSC South play 0-3. The Owls rallied though, and won their next four, before conference champion Bakersfield stopped it as the second half of conference play began. The Owls followed that up with another tough loss when Antelope Valley hit a last second three that sank Citrus' upset bid.     

Citrus never gave into the doubters though, and finished up the season with wins in four of their last five, although their season ended in disappointing fashion, after they gave up a 20-point second half lead in a 95-91 loss to West Los Angeles. 

The Owls also have four players who average double-digits, with sophomore Mark Williams leading the way at 15.9 ppg and 8.2 boards a game. Freshman Kenneth Cyprian is adding 12.6 points a game, while sophomore Ryan Wiley is at 11.2 points and a team leading 8.5 rebounds a contest. Sophomore Jordan McNellys is right behind at 10.6 ppg. 

Playoff History

Citrus College

The 2016 playoffs mark the 10th straight season that the Owls have made the CCCAA Playoffs dating back to the 2006-2007 post-season. In that span, Citrus is 19-8 in the playoffs (70.4% winning percentage), and prior to last season had won at least one playoff game in each of it's previous eight appearances. Last year, Citrus (the #10 seed) lost in the second round to #7 Mt. San Jacinto College 87-69. More ominously seven of Citrus' eight losses in the post-season have been on the road. 

Palomar College

The 2016 playoffs marks the Comets fifth appearance in the SoCal Playoffs under Head Coach John O'Neill, dating back to the 2003 post-season. It's the first time Palomar has hosted a team in the playoffs since that 2003 appearance. That year, the Comets were the #16 seed and lost to #17 Cuesta College. More recently, the Comets were in the playoffs in 2013, coming in as the #12 seed, defeating #5 LA Pierce in the second round, before falling to eventual State Runner-Up Chaffey College in the regional semi-finals. In their other two appearances, 2006 (seed #17) and 2007 (seed #20), Palomar lost in the first round. 

How To Follow

The easiest way to follow the action on Wednesday night will be to attend the game in person inside "The Dome" on the campus of Palomar College in San Marcos. General admission is $12 per person, while children under 12, students, faculty, staff, and senior citizens aged 60+ (all with ID) are $8 as set by the California Community College Athletic Association. In addition the Citrus College Athletics Twitter Page will be efforting updates throughout the game. Follow live at @ccfightingowls.