(Ridgecrest, CA) In the final game of the 2018 calendar year, the Mt. SAC Men's Basketball Team fell to host Cerro Coso College on New Years' Eve afternoon, 89-75 in a nonconference game.
With the loss, the Mounties dropped to 5-7 overall on the season, falling for the third consecutive time.
Cerro Coso had a big first half, with a 17-point advantage over the Mounties, 42-25. Mt. SAC staged a comeback after the intermission with 50 second half points, but lost by 14 in their final nonconference game of the season.
The Mounties were led by guard Gabe Ontiveros off the bench with a game-high 27 points. The freshman, who shot 70% (7 for 10 FGM) from the field and was 13 of 19 from the free throw line, was averaging 10 points per game in the previous eight contests before his breakout performance.
The only other Mountie in double figures was guard Daniel DeJoya with 11 points (5 for 8 FGM, 5 RB, 3 Asst., 3 Stls.). Also scoring for Mt. SAC was guard Joseph Gonzalez (3-5 FGM, 2-3 3PM, 2 RB, 1 Stl.) and guard/forward Shallamar Poole (4-4 FGM, 3 RB, 1 Blk.) with nine and eight points, respectively.
Mt. SAC begins South Coast Conference crossover action Friday (1/4) as they host Cerritos College. Game time is 5:00 pm.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.