A clutch three-pointer by sophomore guard Jimmy Golden saved the Irvine Valley men's basketball team in regulation and the Lasers dominated overtime to beat College of the Canyons, 72-64, and win the 20th Annual Irvine Valley College Classic title Saturday evening.
Golden took a handoff from sophomore guard Chris Salas on the right side, dribbled to his left and then nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer of regulation to tie the game at 56-56.
Irvine Valley was 0 for 8 from three-point range in the second half before Golden hit that shot.
The Lasers then out-scored Canyons, 16-8, in overtime for the win.
It is the first time in the 20-year history of the tournament that IVC has won back-to-back titles in its own tournament. It was Irvine Valley's sixth title in the Classic overall.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 3-1 overall on the season. IVC has won three straight after dropping its opening game of the year.
Canyons record dropped to 3-2 overall.
Golden was named tournament MVP after hitting the big shot and defending tough all weekend.
He finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and two steals in 39 minutes of action in the title game.
Sophomore center Andrew Bastien was a presence in the middle for IVC and had his best game of the young season. Bastien ended with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Sophomore forward Chris Porter also had his best game of the year so far, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Porter was named to the all-tournament team.
Bastien and Porter helped lead IVC to a huge rebounding advantage in the game. Irvine Valley out-rebounded Canyons, 46-24. The Lasers had 26 offensive rebounds in the game.
In second-chance points, Irvine Valley out-scored Canyons, 30-7.
Sophomore guard Jalen Hall chipped in nine points, four rebounds and two steals and sophomore guard Ronnie Harris, who was also named all-tournament, had six points and four rebounds for the Lasers.
Canyons was led by Coley Apsay, who had 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. He went 10 of 14 from the free throw line. Aspay and Victor Nwaba, who had 10 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals in the title game, were named all-tournament for the Cougars.
Tullio Parry and Brenden Otero each finished with 11 points for Canyons.
The game was tight throughout with 10 ties and 10 lead changes. Canyons led by as many as nine points in the first half. The game was tied down the stretch at 45-45, 47-47, and, 49-49, before Canyons scored four straight points.
Two free throws by Parry gave Canyons a 53-49 lead with 1:01 left in regulation.
IVC got to within 53-51 on two free throws by Ronnie Harris with 27 seconds to play.
Otero made one of two free throws to give Canyons a 54-51 lead and Bastien sank two free throws to get Irvine Valley with 54-53 with 20 seconds remaining.
Riley Honaker's two free throws with 10 seconds left moved the Cougar lead to 56-53.
Golden then made his clutch shot for IVC.
Porter was the star for the Lasers in overtime, scoring eight of his 18 points in the extra five-minute period.
His three-pointer with 1:45 to go in overtime put Irvine Valley in front, 63-59. Porter hit another three-pointer with 34 seconds left to make it a 68-61 advantage for IVC.
Harris and Hall made free throws in the last 20 seconds for the final margin of victory.
20th Annual Irvine Valley Classic
Final-day results (Nov. 21)
Irvine Valley def. Canyons, 72-64 OT (championship final)
Long Beach City def. Cerritos, 79-66, (third-place game)
Santa Monica def. Ventura, 93-84 (consolation final)
All-Tournament team
MVP - Jimmy Golden - Irvine Valley
Chris Porter - Irvine Valley
Ronnie Harris - Irvine Valley
Coley Aspay - College of the Canyons
Victor Nwaba - College of the Canyons
Elijah Gaines - Long Beach City
Micah Winn - Cerritos
Brandon Baker - Santa Monica
