Irvine Valley Classic basketball tournament begins Thursday

Irvine Valley Classic basketball tournament begins Thursday

Irvine Valley's men's basketball team hosts its annual IVC Classic this Thursday through Saturday.

Irvine Valley opens the tournament with a game against Ventura at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

There will be four games on both Thursday and Friday and three games on Saturday, including the championship at 4 p.m.

Teams in this year's even include Long Beach City, Cuyamaca, Santa Monica, Canyons, Ventura, Irvine Valley, Imperial Valley and Cerritos.

Other games on Thursday are Imperial Valley against Cerritos at 2 p.m., Canyons against Cuyamaca at 4 p.m. and Santa Monica against Long Beach City at 8 p.m.

Cerritos is the top-ranked team heading into the event. The Falcons were ranked No. 13 in the state and seventh in Southern California in the preseason coaches' poll.

Irvine Valley was ranked No. 19 and Ventura was tied for 20th in the Southern California poll.

Irvine Valley has won the tournament the last three seasons. It beat Cerritos, 61-51, last year.

Isaiah Milan, who has since transferred to play at San Diego Christian, was the MVP for the Lasers.

Irvine Valley is off to a 2-0 start so far this year.

IVC won its opening game of the season over Cuyamaca, 72-67, at home on Nov. 1. Freshman forward Lance Coleman II led Irvine Valley with 27 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Zuri Williams added 11 points, four assists and five steals for IVC, while freshman guard Nate Barker finished with nine points and four rebounds. Sophomore guard Mike Turner chipped in seven points and three assists.

Irvine Valley then won at Southwestern, 86-69, last Friday night. Southwestern was ranked No. 12 in Southern California in the preseason poll.

Turner finished with 18 points, Coleman II had 15 points, freshman guard Daniel Hernandez chipped in 13 points and sophomore center Lamont Tyler had nine points for IVC.

2016 Irvine Valley Classic Men's Basketball Tournament

Thursday, Nov. 17 Schedule

Imperial Valley vs. Cerritos 2 p.m.

Canyons vs. Cuyamaca 4 p.m.

Ventura vs. Irvine Valley 6 p.m.

Santa Monica vs. Long Beach City 8 p.m.