Pirates rally past Tigers for second OEC win in a row
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orange Coast (2-1, 4-11 OEC) | 28 | 44 | 72 |
|
Riverside (2-1, 7-11 OEC) | 35 | 32 | 67 |
RIVERSIDE -- The Orange Coast College men's basketball team has turned the corner at just the right time. With a strong second half performance, the Pirates upset Riverside City College, 72-67, on Wednesday night at RCC's Wheelock Gym.
Devasyia Hagger led the Pirates (4-11, 2-1, in Orange Empire Conference) with 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Deion Page added 17 points and Brad Buchignani chipped in 12.
After starting the season 0-10, the Pirates have won four of their last five, including a pair of crucial OEC matchups that have them just one game out of first place behind Saddleback.
Coast trailed 35-28 at the half, but began to cut into the Tigers' lead. With just over 11 minutes left in the game, the Pirates got within a basket at 52-50, then, outscored RCC 11-2 over the next six minutes to lead, 61-54.
It was a lead the Pirates would not lose the rest of the night as they pushed the advantage as high as eight (71-63), playing their best basketball of the season.
Coast outscored the Tigers (7-11, 2-1) 44-32 in the second half, held by Deion Page (11 points), Hagger (eight) and Buchignani (eight).
The shooting was red-hot for OCC over the final 20 minutes, hitting 15-of-22 from the field (68.2 percent), a perfect 3-for-3 from 3-point range and 11-of-21 from the free-throw line.
The Pirates will return to action on Wednesday at Santa Ana (7 p.m.) before returning to the Peterson Gym on Friday, Jan. 23 against Saddleback (7 p.m.).
