Dons Defeat First Place Riverside 71-70 in Overtime
The Santa Ana College (SAC) men's basketball team handed Riverside College its first Orange Empire Conference loss of the season, 71-70, in overtime.
The Santa Ana College (SAC) men's basketball team handed Riverside College its first Orange Empire Conference loss of the season, 71-70, in overtime.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair with the Tigers (8-7, 2-1) holding the early lead at 9-6 before the Dons (8-9, 2-2) came back to establish a 18-12 lead halfway through the first half.
The Dons continued to lead until the 2:14 mark when a pair of Solomon Singer free throws gave the Tigers a 27-26 lead. Kashif Williams hit a free throw moments later to tie the game at 2727 before Kacy Barlow hit a pair of jumpers around a Tigers three-pointer to give the Dons a 31-30 lead.
Mason Biddle ended the half for Riverside with a jumper that gave the Tigers a 32-31 lead at the break. Biddle was one of four Tigers with five points in the half while Ashton Coleman led the Dons with eight points.
In the second half, the two teams played each other close with the largest lead of the half belonging to the Dons at 64-58 with 1:30 left. Riverside scored the final six points of regulation to force overtime.
The Dons opened overtime with a three-pointer by Barlow to go up 67-64 before a pair of Kevin Ramirez free throws gave the Dons a 69-64 lead. Riverside answered with a pair of baskets to cut the lead to 69-68 with just over one minute remaining.
After a pair of Ramirez free throws gave the Dons a 71-68 lead, Keenan Braden hit a lay-up for Riverside as time expired, giving the Dons the 71-70 win.
Barlow and Ramirez led the Dons with 16 points apiece followed by Coleman with 12. For Riverside, Biddle led the way with 15 points with Braden adding 13 and Corey Walker 11.
