Basketball team takes down Saddleback for the second time

Basketball team takes down Saddleback for the second time

The Irvine Valley men's basketbal team won its second Orange Empire Conference game over Saddleback this season.

IVC went on the road and captured a 66-55 victory over the Bobcats.

Irvine Valley improved its record to 15-7 overall and 6-4 in the conference. Saddleback went to 13-10 overall and 6-5 in conference.

The Lasers trailed, 29-27, at the half, but out-scored Saddleback, 39-26, in the second half for the win.

Irvine Valley had multiple standout performances. Sophomore guard Roman Swizek led in scoring with 19 points. He went 8 of 14 from the field and made all three of his three-pointers.

Sophomore post player Jesse Stines finished with 18 points and six rebounds and sophomore guard Luke Farrington added 13 points.

Sophomore point guard David Ogunlade and freshman forward Ethan Tauber also had impactful games. Ogunlade contributed six assists and Tauber had seven points and seven rebounds for IVC.

The Lasers took the lead for good early in the second half when Stines made two free throws to put Irvine Valley up, 34-32.

Irvine Valley led by as many as 14 points with less than two minutes left in the contest.

IVC plays again on Wednesday, hosting Riverside at 5 p.m.