Pirates hang on for 64-55 win over Dons
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Santa Ana (5-17, 1-7) | 19 | 36 | 55 |
|
Orange Coast (9-13, 3-5) | 31 | 33 | 64 |
COSTA MESA -- Ryan Fusco had 18 points and seven rebounds to lead the Orange Coast College men's basketball team to a 64-55 Orange Empire Conference win over visiting Santa Ana College on Wednesday night inside the Peterson Gym.
With Coast (9-13, 3-5 OEC) hanging on to a 57-55 lead with 1:11 left in the game, Fusco took a no-look pass from Jamaal Lee and the freshman drained his second 3-pointer of the game, putting the nail in the coffin for the Dons (5-17, 1-7). Santa Ana nearly came all the way back from an early 14-point deficit and climbed to within two on two different occasions, but OCC managed to get the key stop on defense and made key free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
Lee finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, while Kyle Lawson added 11 points, three rebounds and three assists. Paul Pena was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line on his way to nine points off the bench, while Ibrahim Gerlach had a slow offensive night (three points), but was strong on the glass with 10 rebounds, helping Coast to a 42-26 rebounding edge over the Dons.
Santa Ana was held to just 35 percent shooting (20-of-57) for the game and just 20 percent (6-of-30) from 3-point range. Chris Thompson was the lone Dons player in double figures with 12 points, while De'Jon Frazier and Pedro Chavarin added nine points apiece.
Coast will return to action on Friday at Irvine Valley College (7 p.m.) before returning to the Peterson Gym on Tuesday against Fullerton (7 p.m.).
