Irvine Valley's men's basketball team bounced back in a big way in its second game of the season on Thursday night.
After losing its opener to Cuyamaca by 14 points last week, Irvine Valley routed Santa Monica, 77-49, in the opening round of the 20th Annual Irvine Valley Classic.
Santa Monica was ranked No. 6 in the preseason California Community College Coaches Association poll.
Seventh-ranked Irvine Valley, held Santa Monica to just 30 percent shooting (15 of 50) from the field for the game.
Irvine Valley made just 40.6 percent (26 of 34) of its shots, but the Lasers were active all night long.
IVC out-rebounded Santa Monica, 49-33, and had 20 assists to just 12 turnovers.
Irvine Valley dominated inside, out-scoring Santa Monica, 32-18, in the paint and, 16-8, on second chance points.
The Lasers led, 42-30, at halftime and grew their lead from there in the second half.
Sophomores Chris Porter, Chris Salas, Jimmy Golden and Ronnie Harris led the way.
Porter went for 16 points and 10 rebounds, Salas had 16 points and made 3 of 5 three-pointers, Golden finished with 14 points and nine rebounds and Harris, who started at point guard for the first time in his career at IVC, ended with eight points, seven assists, five rebounds and zero turnovers.
The Lasers also got eight points and seven rebounds from sophomore center Andrew Bastien and five points off the bench from freshman forward Tanner Aguera in the win.
Irvine Valley will play Cerritos on Friday at 7 p.m. in a semifinal game. Cerritos crushed Imperial Valley, 75-48, in the late opening-day game Thursday night.
20th Annual Irvine Valley Classic
First-round results (Nov. 20)
Long Beach City def. Cuyamaca, 58-40
Canyons def. Ventura, 61-57
Irvine Valley def. Santa Monica, 77-49
Cerritos def. Imperial Valley, 75-48
Second-day schedule (Nov. 21)
Cuyamca vs. Ventura at 1 p.m. (consolation semis)
Santa Monica vs. Imperial Valley at 3 p.m. (consolation semis)
Long Beach City vs. Canyons at 5 p.m. (championship semis)
Cerritos vs. Irvine Valley at 7 p.m. (championship semis)
