Dons Surrender Late Lead Again in Loss to Fullerton
For the second time in three games, the Santa Ana College (SAC) men's basketball team lost an Orange Empire Conference game despite holding a lead in the final minutes.
For the second time in three games, the Santa Ana College (SAC) men's basketball team lost an Orange Empire Conference game despite holding a lead in the final minutes.
The latest loss came at the hands of Fullerton College (6-13, 3-2) after the Dons (8-11, 2-4) held a 16 lead in the first half as well as a six point lead in the final three minutes.
Fullerton opened the game behind Chris Nelson's early hot hand. Nelson hit a pair of jumpers around a Kuunu Shofu layup to give the Hornets an early 6-2 lead.
The Dons answered with a 12-0 run to establish a 14-6 lead with Ashton Coleman leading the charge with seven points. Coleman would go on to record a double-double in the first half with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Dons built their lead up to 15 points at 24-9 before taking their largest lead of the half at 29-13. Fullerton closed out the half on a 16-5 run to cut the Dons lead to 36-29 going into the break.
Fullerton continued to charge back in the early minutes of the second half, eventually erasing the Dons lead just five minutes into the half. Gregory Brewernick's three-pointer gave the Hornets their first lead since the beginning of the game at 39-38.
The two teams then traded the lead for several minutes before the Dons established a six point lead with 5:40 remaining in the game. The Dons continued to hold the lead until Matthew Franklin's layup tied the game at 65-65.
Fullerton reclaimed the lead with 1:25 remaining on a Nelson free throw before Shofu's layup gave the Hornets a 68-65 lead. Fullerton built their lead up to six which proved to be insurmountable for the Dons.
Coleman finished the game with 19 points, tied with a pair of Hornets for the game high. He also grabbed 19 rebounds for the Dons in the losing effort.
