Pirates rally late to top Santa Ana

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's basketball team are ending the 2021-22 season with some positive mojo as the Pirates picked up their second straight last-second win with a 64-63 triumph over visiting Santa Ana on Thursday night inside the Peterson Gym.

Jydon Hall's hard-fought basket with four seconds remaining proved to be the difference-maker for the Pirates, who trailed most of the way until the game's final seconds.

Santa Ana took a timeout and tried to get down the floor for a game-winner, but the Dons' final attempt rattled off the backboard and rim, giving Coast the victory.

Coast scored the first seven points of the game and had its last lead at 9-8 with 12:47 remaining in the first half. From there, it was an uphill struggle to get back ahead of the Dons.

Trailing by as many as 13 points (45-32) with 15:44 remaining in the game, Coast began to battle back.

OCC went on a 21-8 run over the next eight minutes of play to tie the game at 53, courtesy of a 3-pointer from J.J. Chapple. 

With 2:44 left, a made jumper my Ian Hietala gave Santa Ana a 63-60 lead, but that would be all for the Dons the rest of the way. Hall made a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left to bring OCC to within one at 63-62 and after a missed Hietala layup, OCC got the ball back with one final chance.

Hall would not be denied as he wiggled and worked his way through a relentless Santa Ana defense before finding a small window to drive to the hoop. He did, scored the basket and put the Pirates up for good.

Logan Howard led the Pirates with 17 points, while Hall finished with 16. Ty Barker found some rhythm and finished the night with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Aundrel Pua controlled the boards with a game-high 13 rebounds.

Russell Malone led the Dons with 20 points, while Hietala added 12 points and eight rebounds.

Coast will wrap up the season on Monday at home against Golden West, beginning at 5 p.m.