The Citrus College Fighting Owls concluded the 2015 Neil Edwards Classic on Nov. 29 with a 1-2 record for the tournament.
On the last day of the tournament, San Diego City College sophomore guard Spencer Mattox led the Knights to an 83-75 victory over the Owls with a game-high 24 points, five assists and three steals.
SDCC built a lead in the first half a lead they maintained down the stretch.
Two weeks before, Citrus defeated SDCC at their tournament in San Diego.
“They’re a hell of a team,” Mattox said. “We let one go down in our tournament. It was only right we get it back.”
Citrus answered SDCC’s start with sophomore forward Ryan Wiley, who scored a running layup and three-pointer on back-to-back plays.
Wiley followed that sequence up with a steal on the defensive side and a quick outlet pass to freshman guard Kenneth Cyprian, to give Citrus a 24-21 lead with 7:30 left in the first half.
Mattox and Wiley continued trading baskets, but SDCC ended the half on a 19-7 run. Mattox’s 14-point first half gave SDCC a 40-31 lead at the break.
SDCC built on its lead and a three-pointer by sophomore guard Taylor Nelson gave the Knights a 49-34 lead over the Owls a few minutes into the second half.
A couple minutes later, Mattox attacked the basket for another layup and followed that up with a crossover jumper.
Citrus went on a 12-6 run to cut the deficit to 59-51 with 8:38 to play. Every time Citrus made a push, the SDCC sophomore guard answered.
A jumper by Mattox with 4:47 to go stretched the lead back out to 71-57 for SDCC. The Knights hung on and beat the Owls for the second time in three tries this season.
“They competed,” SDCC head coach Mitch Charlens said. “The few games we lost this year, we weren’t pouting. We just felt like the other team out competed us those games.”
SDCC 7-foot freshman center Leonard Allen finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and a big dunk down the stretch before fouling out.
Wiley led Citrus with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals. Cyprian added 14 points and three steals.
Freshman guard Latrelle Franklin provided a spark off the bench for Citrus, contributing with nine points, a team-high six assists and two steals.
SDCC made 54 percent of their shots to Citrus’ 40 percent. Citrus was out rebounded 40-24, but had 12 steals to SDCC’s three.
“We’ve had good moments and bad moments,” Citrus head coach Patrick Johnson said. “Where we struggle right now is being able to play consistently at a high level right now.”
The Owls dropped their opening game of the tournament after the Victor Valley Rams made a late three-pointer with 20 seconds left, to give the Rams a 74-71 victory.
In their second game, Citrus defeated El Camino-Compton Center College 88-83 in overtime; all five starters scoring in double-figures led by freshman guard Kenneth Cyprian, who finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.
Still early in the season and a couple weeks before conference play begins, Citrus College (5-4) will face Barstow City College (2-8) in the opening round of the Riverside Tournament at 1 p.m. on Dec. 8.
