Irvine Valley's men's basketball team battled back in the second half, but couldn't capitalize in overtime and fell, 74-67, at Orange Coast on Wednesday night.
It was the third straight loss to start Orange Empire Conference play for IVC.
Irvine Valley's record slipped to 12-7 overall and 0-3 in conference.
Sophomore forward Jacob Dean finished with 12 points, while sophomore guard Jacob Short and freshman forward Zach Harvey came off the bench and scored 11 points apiece. Harvey also had three blocked shots.
Freshman guard Chris Lott added nine points and seven rebounds for IVC.
Irvine Valley shot 50.0 percent (28 of 56) from the field, but hurt itself by only making 3 of 11 free throws (27.3 percent) and committing 22 turnovers. Irvine Valley was also out-rebounded, 37-26, by the Pirates.
Jamaal Lee led OCC with 24 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Ryan Fusco added 15 points, while Josh Mendoza and Ibrahim Gerlach had eight points each.
Orange Coast improved its record to 8-9 overall and 2-1 in conference.
Irvine Valley trailed by seven points with 2:54 left in the second half, but went on a 11-4 run to send the game into overtime. However, OCC out-scored the Lasers, 13-6, in the extra session for the win.
Irvine Valley was on fire to start the game. It scored the first eight point. But OCC used a 25-8 run to go ahead, 25-16.
OCC maintained a nine-point advantage into halftime, but the Lasers answered back.
Early in the second half, Coast's lead grew to 45-32 before IVC forced overtime by closing out regulation with a 29-16 run.
A Harvey dunk with 24 seconds left capped off the run and brought the Lasers all the way back. The basket tied the game at 61-61.
Irvine Valley led, 64-62, in overtime, but then Fusco drained a three-pointer with 3:56 left, putting OCC up, 65-64.
Lott followed with a layup to put the Lasers in front, 66-65, with 3:35 left, but that was the last field goal of the game for IVC.
Jumoke Walker made two free throws to give Orange Coast the lead for good. A steal and layup by Lee finished off the game for OCC.
The victory by Orange Coast snapped a 13-game win streak for the Lasers over the Pirates. OCC's last win over Irvine Valley came during the 2008-09 season.
Irvine Valley has a bye from conference play on Friday night and will play at Saddleback next Wednesday at 5 p.m. in a President's Cup series game.
