Irvine Valley's men's basketball team tried to make a late run to get close to Cypress, but couldn't cut a double-digit deficit in the second half and fell, 67-56, in an Orange Empire Conference game at home on Wednesday night.
The Lasers kept things close early and held a three-point lead, but Cypress built a 35-28 lead by halftime and extended that advantage to as many as 19 points in the second half before closing out the win.
Irvine Valley's record slipped to 4-18 overall and 1-5 in conference, while Cypress improved to 15-7 overall and 4-2 in conference.
Both teams made 20 field goals, but the difference was at the line where the Chargers made 22 of 30 free throws. The Lasers were 11 of 19 from the line.
Another factor for Cypress was on the boards where the Chargers out-rebounded IVC, 38-27.
Irvine Valley was paced by sophomore guard Geoff Salas, who came off the bench with 18 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Isaiah Mahmud scored 13 points and had three steals for the Lasers. And freshman forward Sadiq Muhammad chipped in nine points.
Cypress, coached by former IVC assistant and then associate head coach Andrew Alhadeff, was paced by Kamron Barnes.
He had a big night with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Isaac Stell added 13 points and three assists and Mike Magee had 11 points and eight rebounds before fouling out late in the game.
Irvine Valley plays again Friday at Orange Coast in a conference game at 5 p.m.
