Irvine Valley's men's basketball team opens its 2014-15 season tonight at home against Cuyamaca at 5 p.m.
Irvine Valley is coming off a 2013-14 season where it went 25-5 overall and 9-3 in the Orange Empire Conference, which was good for third place.
Saddleback and Santa Ana tied for the title with records of 10-2.
IVC was ranked No. 1 in the state for the first time in program history last December.
The Lasers return several key players from last year's team, including three starters.
Forward Chris Porter was named first team all-Orange Empire Conference last year after averaging 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Guard Jimmy Golden averaged 7.5 points and point guard Jalen Hall averaged 5.8 points, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Other returners include point Guard Ronnie Harris, who averaged 3.5 points and 1.7 assists, center Andrew Bastien, who averaged 3.0 points and 3.3 rebounds, guard Chris Salas, who averaged 3.0 points and guard Kody Eckert.
Top newcomers include forwards Jacob Dean, Tanner Aguera and Craig Magyar.
Magyar red-shirted for Irvine Valley last season.
IVC is taking on a Cuyamaca team that has already played three games.
Cuyamaca has a record of 1-2 so far.
The team lost to College of the Desert, 87-79, on Nov. 1, fell to Canyons, 62-54, on Nov. 7 and then defeated Oxnard, 74-68, on Nov. 8.
Tim Pace is averaging 15.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game, Kendal Kirkland is averaging 13.0 points and 9.3 rebounds and Dominique Watkins is averaging 10.0 points per game for Cuyamaca.
Irvine Valley will next play in its own IVC Classic tournament next Thursday, Nov. 20 with a game at 6 p.m. against Santa Monica.
