The Irvine Valley men's basketball team starts the new year with a home Orange Empire Conference contest against Saddleback at 6 p.m. Wednesday night.
The Lasers enter with a record of 9-4 overall and 0-1 in the OEC.
The Lasers played their last two games the week of Dec. 19. IVC fell to Orange Coast in its conference opener, 73-66, at home and then went on the road and defeated Cuyamaca, 72-60, in nonconference action.
Against Cuyamaca, the Lasers shot 56.5 percent (26 of 46) from the field and 47.4 percent (9 of 19) from the three-point line.
Sophomore post player Jesse Stines led the way with 24 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
Freshman guard Ammon Allan added 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists and sophomore wing Marcus Carter chipped in 15 points for the Lasers.
On the year, Stines is averaging 13.2 points, 8.3 rebounds (third in conference) and 1.5 blocks (first in conference) per game.
Sophomore guard Luke Farrington averages 9.6 points and is shooting 52.4 percent from the field (fifth in conference) and 51.2 percent (first in conference) from the three-point line.
Sophomore guard Roman Swizek is averaging 9.2 points and Allan averages 9.1 points and 2.8 assists a game for IVC. The Lasers next play at Riverside on Friday.
Saddleback comes into the game with a record of 8-6 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Saddleback started OEC action with a tough, 67-65, loss to Santiago Canyon at home on Dec. 19.
John McFadden led the Bobcats with 20 points and 15 rebounds.
Saddleback then traveled to Golden West on Dec. 21 and picked up a 84-77 victory.
James Burries paced the team with 18 points.
On the season, Burries is averaging 18.7 points (third in conference) and 7.4 rebounds (fifth in conference) per game and McFadden averages 17.4 points and 10.0 rebounds (first in conference).
Andre Speight averages 10.2 points and 2.8 assists and Charlie Stallings is averaging 8.7 points and 4.4 rebounds a game for Saddleback.
Upcoming Irvine Valley Schedule
1/5 at *Riverside (5 p.m.)
1/10 at *Santa Ana (5 p.m.)
1/12 vs. *Fullerton (6 p.m.)
1/17 at *Santiago Canyon (6 p.m.)
1/19 vs. *Golden West (6 p.m.)
*Orange Empire Conference game
