The Irvine Valley men's basketball team takes on Cypress Friday night at home at 7 p.m.
It is part of a doubleheader with the IVC women's basketball team, which plays Fullerton in a key game at 5 p.m.
And part of a tripleheader at the college where the baseball team starts its season against Long Beach City at home at 1 p.m.
Cypress enters with a record of 15-6 overall and 5-3 in Orange Empire Conference play.
Cypress is ranked No. 19 in the state, fell to No. 10 Santiago Canyon, 78-65, on Wednesday at home.
Santiago Canyon led, 37-24, at the half and never looked back. Michael Wright and Vincent Albertini led the Chargers with 16 points each. Albertini also had 15 rebounds, while Wright added 10 rebounds.
Also scoring in double figures was Higgy Katoa, who had 12 points and five rebounds.
On the season, Cypress has seven players averaging at least 7.0 points per game. The Chargers are led by Wright, who is averaging 13.3 points, Peyton Guerrero, who averages 12.1 points. James Christian III averages 8.5 points and Katoa is averaging 8.2 points per game. Wright also leads the team in rebounding at 6.8 per contest, while Katoa leads in assists at 3.9 per game.
Cypress knocked off Irvine Valley, 63-49, the first time the two played at Cypress.
Irvine Valley enters tonight's contest with a mark of 11-10 overall and 3-5 in the OEC.
The Lasers fell at Santa Ana, 68-58, last Friday.
Irvine Valley kept it close with No. 11 Fullerton for most of the game Wednesday night at home, but the Hornets pulled away late in the second half for a 63-51 victory.
Sophomore forward Josiah Reed paced IVC with 15 points and five rebounds and Yanis Aldeguer finished with 10 points, four rebounds and two steals for the Lasers.
Fullerton made 18 free throws compared to three for IVC.
On the year, Mowers is averaging 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds, Aldeguer averages 10.1 points, sophomore guard Ammon Allan averages 9.0 points and 4.7 rebounds, Reed is averaging 7.8 points and 5.6 rebounds and freshman guard Allen Moser is averaging 7.5 points and 3.2 assists for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley plays its fourth game in a row at home next Wednesday against Santa Ana at 6 p.m.
