Men's basketball team hosts Riverside in key OEC game tonight

Courtesy of On My Game Photography
Courtesy of On My Game Photography

Irvine Valley's men's basketball team takes on Riverside in an important Orange Empire Conference matchup tonight.

The two teams are in a four-way tie for fifth place in the tough OEC going into the contest.

Riverside has record of 11-8 overall and is 2-3 in the Orange Empire Conference.

The Tigers earned a big win at home last Friday, beating Saddleback, 64-60, to snap a three-game losing skid.

Riverside trailed, 60-59 with 35 seconds left, but scored the final five points of the contest.

Kane Daniels hit a three-pointer with 24 seconds remaining to give the Tigers the lead for good. It was the starting five that did all of the damage for the RCC, accounting for all 64 points.

Four of the five starters landed in double-digits.

Jordan Robinson returned after missing five games and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Rico Tate added 10 points, all of which came in the first half to spark the team.

Andre Wilson ignited Riverside's second-half play with 11 points in the frame and 19 points overall.

And Brae Ivey finished with 14 points and three assists for RCC.

On the season, Ivey averages 18.6 points, 6.2 rebound, 4.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Wilson averages 17.4 points, Robinson averages 14.9 points, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals, Daniels is averaging 10.1 points and 5.6 rebounds and Tate averages 6.0 points a game.

Irvine Valley suffered a late 75-72 loss at Cypress in an Orange Empire Conference game last Wednesday night. The Lasers had a bye on Friday.

The defeat last Wednesday dropped Irvine Valley's record to 13-9 overall and 2-3 in conference.

Freshman forward Jake Linsky and freshman guard Daniel Chatman each scored 18 points to pace Irvine Valley.

Sophomore guard Daniel Hernandez added 14 points for IVC.

The Lasers jumped out to a 15-4 lead and were up, 39-35, at the half.

It was a battle in the second half with both teams trading baskets.

But Mike Magee took over the game down the stretch for Cypress, scoring 11 of this team's final 13 points.

 IVC has dropped three of its last four conference games, but two of those have been by a total of four points.

On the season, Linsky is averaging 13.0 points and 9.2 rebounds, Hernandez is averaging 11.0 points and 2.4 assists, Chatman is averaging 9.5 points, sophomore forward Parker Sims averages 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds and sophomore forward Zane Paddon is averaging 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game for Irvine Valley.

IVC is at Orange Coast on Friday for a 7 p.m. game.