The Irvine Valley men's basketball team had a dynamite second half and saw the best performance from sophomore guard Luke Farrington in his college career to defeat Santa Ana, 67-55, Friday night at home.
It was a key Orange Empire Conference win for Irvine Valley and moved its record to 16-8 overall and 7-5 in the Orange Empire Conference. Santa Ana went to 10-14 overall and 4-8 in the OEC.
IVC remained in third place in the conference.
The second half was the difference for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley trailed, 33-29, at the half. But it out-scored, Santa Ana, 38-22, in the second half.
And the key was Farrington. He kept the Lasers in the game in the first half with four three-pointers and then put the game away with four more threes in the second half.
Farrington's three-pointer with 5:18 left in the game put Irvine Valley ahead, 53-51, with 5:18 to go.
The Lasers never trailed again.
Farrington sank another three-pointer with 4:28 to go to put IVC up by five points.
And it was a 59-51 lead for Irvine Valley after freshman forward Josiah Reed hit a three-pointer off of an assist from sophomore guard Roman Swizek.
Farrington made two more three-pointers at the 1:58 and 1:10 marks in the second half to give Irvine Valley a 65-55 lead.
Farrington made eight three-pointers and finished with 28 points to lead IVC. He also had six rebounds and two assists. Farrington also made all four of his free throws.
Reed also had a great night with 12 points with six rebounds. He went 5 of 6 from the field.
Sophomore post player Jesse Stines added 12 points and six rebounds, Swizek finished with seven assists and sophomore guard David Ogunlade added five points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Lasers.
Mac West finished with 15 points and Kaden Minter had 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists to pace the Dons.
Irvine Valley plays the top team in the OEC, Fullerton, next Tuesday on the road at 6 p.m.
