In a wild back and forth game on Homecoming Night, the Irvine Valley men's basketball team pulled out a 62-61 Orange Empire Conference win over Cypress at home on Wednesday.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Irvine Valley and improved its record to 13-12 overall and 4-6 in conference. Cypress' record fell to 13-11 overall and 5-4 in conference.
The final four seconds of the game alone were something to see.
IVC freshman forward Lance Coleman II knocked down what turned out to be the game-winning three point shot in the corner, IVC was handed a technical foul for fan going onto the floor with time still left on the clock and a last-chance heave by Cypress' O'Shae Williams from well beyond the three-point arc fell short.
There were nine ties and 13 lead changes in the ballgame.
Cypress took a 58-54 lead with under six minutes left on a back-to-back baskets by Pascal Evans.
Neither team nearly scored for the next three minutes.
But Irvine Valley got a pair of free throws from Coleman to make it 58-56 with 2:48 left.
And then freshman guard Bekim Djokovic made one of two free throws to get IVC within 58-57 with 1:55 to play.
Williams put Cypress up by three points at 60-57 with a layup with 1:28 to play.
IVC's sophomore guard Zuri Williams answered with a layup to make it a one-point game again.
After a steal by IVC, foul by Cypress and a missed free throw by Irvine Valley it was still a one-point game with under 30 seconds to play.
Irvine Valley was forced to foul and O'Shae Williams was off on his free throw to give Irvine Valley one more chance.
Then Zuri Williams found Coleman in the right corner and he buried the three-pointer to put Irvine Valley ahead, 62-60, with 3.9 seconds left.
IVC was given the administrative technical foul shortly after, which resulted in one free throw that Chez Lister made to bring Cypress within 62-61.
The Chargers also received the ball out of bounds and got it in the hands of Williams, but his rushed attempt at a three-pointer from deep was off the mark.
Coleman led Irvine Valley with 14 points and eight rebounds. He scored all 14 points in the second half.
Sophomore forward Zach Harvey had nine points and four rebounds and Williams and sophomore guards Anthony Hernandez and Jack Taylor each chipped in seven points. Williams also had four assists and three steals.
Freshman forward Parker Sims contributed six rebounds.
Cypress was paced by Williams with a game-high 22 points. He added five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Evans had 11 points and eight rebounds and Brennon Palmer finished with nine points and nine rebounds.
Irvine Valley plays its final home game of the regular season on Friday when it hosts Orange Coast at 5 p.m.
