Pasadena, Calif. – The Mt. SAC Men's Basketball Team capped off a successful weekend at the Skip Robinson Tournament from November 14-16 at Pasadena City College, remaining undefeated with a 5-0 record. The Mounties triumphed in two hard-fought games, defeating No. 20 ranked Cypress College 67-63 in overtime on Thursday and narrowly edging out No. 14 ranked Cerro Coso 64-62 on Saturday.
The Mounties got off to a hot start against Cypress, taking an 8-0 lead early, thanks to a couple of layups from Jon McCullough and a three-pointer from Kenneth Brown. However, after a quick 30-second timeout, the Chargers began to find their rhythm. Michael Wright sparked the comeback with a layup, and Jack Rivera added a three-pointer, followed by a layup and free throw from Peyton Guerrero, giving Cypress a 16-14 lead. The game continued to see-saw, with both teams exchanging leads throughout the remainder of the first half. By halftime, the Mounties trailed by just one point, with the score sitting at 27-26 in favor of the Chargers.
The Mounties came out strong in the second half, with McCullough grabbing a defensive rebound and converting it into a fast-break layup to give Mt. SAC a one-point lead. The Mounties maintained a narrow advantage for most of the second half, but with less than four minutes remaining, Danny Patton's pair of free throws put the Chargers ahead, 52-51. The tension built as the teams traded baskets, with a layup from Brown and a pair of free throws from Jaidyn Simpson. However, the Chargers' Higgy Katoa also sank two free throws, resulting in a 55-55 tie as the clock wound down, sending the game into overtime.
In an exciting five-minute overtime period, the Mounties emerged with a 67-63 victory over Cypress College. McCullough played a pivotal role, making back-to-back free throws with just two seconds left to secure the win for Mt. SAC. Simpson led the Mounties with a game-high 19 points, while McCullough added 17 points. Brown contributed a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Mounties maintain control in the final moments. Michael Wright led the Chargers with 15 points and 7 rebounds, keeping Cypress within striking distance throughout the game.
In another nail-biting contest on Saturday, the Mounties secured a 64-62 victory over No. 14 ranked Cerro Coso in a game that came down to the final minute. With the Coyotes ahead 62-61, Jimmy Baker was fouled on a layup and completed the three-point play, putting Mt. SAC ahead by two with less than a minute left. The Mounties then applied intense defensive pressure, preventing the Coyotes from scoring for the remainder of the game and sealing the hard-fought win.
Simpson once again led the Mounties, scoring an impressive 23 points, which included 7 field goals, 3 three-pointers, and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, along with 6 rebounds. As a team, the Mounties shot 43.1% from the field, 44.4% from beyond the arc, and 72.7% from the charity stripe. In comparison, Cerro Coso shot 47.2% from the field, 30.8% from three-point range, and 61.5% from the free-throw line. The Mounties' were able to secure the win despite the Coyotes' strong shooting performance.
Next up, the Mounties will face No. 6 ranked Santiago Canyon on Wednesday, November 20, at 5:00 PM at Mt. SAC. Come out and support the team! Go Mounties!
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
