The Irvine Valley men's basketball team played its best in the biggest moments of Saturday's championship game of the 21st Annual Irvine Valley College Classic.
There was sophomore forward Jacob Dean taking a key charge, freshman guard Chris Lott nailing a corner three, freshman guard Mike Turner playing tough defense, sophomore forward Craig Magyar making big shots, sophomore center Patrick Sniff and freshman forward Zach Harvey grabbing rebounds and freshman guard Isaiah Milan exploding around defenders for lay-ins at the basket.
Irvine Valley definitely earned the title and coach Jerry Hernandez's 400th career win at the college with its 61-51 win over Cerritos at home.
The Lasers beat three very good teams in the event, taking down Long Beach City, Santa Monica and Cerritos to capture their third classic title in a row.
Irvine Valley also improved its record to 4-1 overall on the season. Cerritos, which was ranked No. 13 in the state in the coaches' preseason poll, slipped to 4-2 overall.
Irvine Valley got contributions from a number of players. Milan finished with 12 points, three assists and two steals.
Sophomore guard Jacob Short had 11 points, Turner added nine points, four rebounds and two steals, sophomore forward Craig Magyar and Lott ended with eight points each and Dean chipped in seven points.
Sophomore forward Tanner Aguera and Short were each named to the all-tournament team and Milan was selected as the most valuable player.
Cerritos got 13 points and six rebounds from Brian Nebo, 10 points and four rebounds from Dillon Reise and nine points from Jonathan Brown in the defeat.
Nebo and Brown were picked to the all-tournament team.
Cerritos hurt itself in the game by going just 15 of 31 (48.4 percent) from the free throw line.
Irvine Valley held a 32-24 lead at the half.
And the Lasers were up by 11 points after Milan made a three-pointer less than a minute into the second half.
But Cerritos came all the way back and took a 41-40 lead on a three-pointer by Jay Merriweather with 13:19 to play in the game.
Lott answered with a three-pointer to put the Lasers back in front, 43-41.
It was tied, 43-43, after a jumper by Brown with 10:54 to play.
The Lasers scored five points in a row to break a 45-45 tie.
A basket and then three-pointer by Magyar and then a layup by Lott put IVC up, 50-45, with 8:33 left.
Irvine Valley never trailed again.
Milan sealed the title with two free throws in the closing seconds.
The win gave Hernandez, who is in his 21st season at Irvine Valley, 400 victories. He improved his career record with the Lasers to 400-219.
Irvine Valley plays again on Wednesday when it hosts Mt. SAC at 6 p.m.
2015-16 Irvine Valley Classic - Final Day Results
Long Beach City def. Ventura, 83-68 (Consolation Final)
Santa Monica def. Canyons, 76-68 (Third-place Game)
Irvine Valley def. Cerritos, 61-51 (Championship Final)
All-Tournament Team
MVP - Isaiah Milan, Irvine Valley
Jacob Short, Irvine Valley
Tanner Aguera, Irvine Valley
Brian Nebo, Cerritos
Jonathan Brown, Cerritos
Duncan Douglas, Santa Monica
Jeremiah Blandin, Long Beach City
