MEN’S BASKETBALL: TIGERS BREAK HORNET WIN STREAK
The No. 2 Hornet men’s basketball team wrapped up an exhausting three-game week at home Friday night, and fell in a hard-fought game to No. 30 Riverside City College 69-59.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
24 | 45 | 69 |
|
|
25 | 34 | 59 |
Team Stats
Riverside
| Game Statistics | Riverside | FULL |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (22-49) | (16-44) |
| Field Goal % | 44.9% | 36.4% |
| Rebounds | 35 | 31 |
| Assists | 14 | 11 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 12 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 16 | 8 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 2 | 7 |
| Pts in the Paint | 20 | 12 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 7 | 0 |
| Bench Pts | 40 | 9 |
The No. 2 Hornet men's basketball team wrapped up an exhausting three-game week at home Friday night, and fell in a hard-fought game to No. 30 Riverside City College 69-59.
Prior to tipoff, the 2019 State banner was unveiled in the Hornet Nest rafters. The 2018-19 team and coaching staff was honored for winning the fourth state title in the college's history.
The FC loss breaks a 22-game win streak dating back to last season. Fullerton's overall record now stands at 17-1 with an Orange Empire Conference record of 6-1. The Riverside win gives them an overall record of 12-8 overall with an OEC record of 7-1.
Harrison Bonner got the game started hitting a deep three-point shot for FC. Riverside's Xavier Ford punched back with three of his own, and the dogfight was on. Punching it out through the first half, Fullerton owned a narrow 25-24 lead by the break.
Fullerton pressed forward in the second half taking their largest lead at 36-28 by 14:48, but the Tigers did not blink tying the game up at 45 by 8:50 off of a three-pointer that was jacked up by Keylin Vance (28 total points off the bench). Everything fell in for Riverside in the final 6 minutes as they took over the game to earn the win.
It was a tightly contested match that featured 8 ties and 9 lead changes, but RCC's three-pointers (11-21 – 52%) made the difference along with scoring more points off of turnovers (16 to FC's 8).
The Hornet's Harrison Bonner scored a team-high 18 points, while Omajae Smith dropped in 14 with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Jacob Eyman had 9 points with 6 rebounds. Ryen Perry also had 9 points.
Up Next: No. 2 Fullerton (17-1, 6-1) will hit the road against No. 21 Saddleback College on Wednesday, January 22nd at 5:00 pm.
*Photos by Phil Thurman and Jim McCormack
