Pirates can't tame Tigers down the stretch in 76-64 loss
COSTA MESA -- The short-handed, under-sized Orange Coast College men's basketball team gave it all it had, but in the end, the Pirates could overcome the size and depth of the Riverside City College Tigers in a 76-64 loss at the Peterson Gym.
The Pirates (9-7, 0-1 in Orange Empire Conference) were without the service of several key players, including leading scorer Marquis Ransom (illness), but despite the incoming setbacks, Coast battled the Tigers (11-5, 1-0) right down to the final whistle.
Both teams traded leads back and forth throughout most of the first half and early on in the second half. Coast led 43-42 with just over 12 minutes left in the game before a 13-1 run over the next five minutes gave the Tigers the lead for good.
Coast crept to within seven with four minutes left and had a good look at a 3-pointer, but the shot rattled off of the rim and the Tigers were not threatened the rest of the way.
Shannon Fowler led the Tigers with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Bernard Ireland added 16 points, Mason Biddle contributed 12 points and seven assists and Jeffrey Gonzalez tossed in 10 to go along with eight rebounds off of the bench.
For the Pirates, Spencer Poston led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds and three assists. Chris Nelson added 12 points and Robert Grepo added 11.
Orange Coast will return to action on Wednesday at Saddleback College, beginning at 7:30 p.m. OCC's next home game will be Wednesday, Jan. 16 against Santa Ana, also at 7:30 p.m.
