The Irvine Valley men's basketball team earned one of its biggest wins of the season on Tuesday night.
The Lasers went on the road and defeated Saddleback, 67-64, in a key Orange Empire Conference contest.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 15-12 overall and 7-7 in OEC play.
With the win, IVC went went to fourth place in the conference standings and will now be the fourth seed in the new Orange Empire Conference Tournament.
Irvine Valley hosts No. 5 Santa Ana on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the tourney. It is part of a doubleheader with the women's basketball team that takes on Saddleback on sophomore night at 5 p.m.
Freshman post player Matt Mowers led IVC with 25 points, five rebounds and three assists. He went 10 of 12 from the field and 5 of 7 from the free throw line.
Another player in double figure scoring for the Lasers was sophomore guard Ammon Allan. He had 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
And freshman win player Yanis Aldeguer had eight points and four rebounds for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley led, 31-30, at the half, but was down, 56-54, with 7:39 left in the game.
IVC rallied and found a way in the final minutes.
Irvine Valley tied it up at 56 on a layup by Nate Tuttle with 6:34 remaining.
Saddleback tied the the game at 60-60 with 1:40 to go.
The Bobcats took a 62-61 lead with 1:02 to play on a layup by TJ Tittelfitz.
But coach Jason Garey's squad stayed stong.
A layup and an one by sophomore forward Josiah Reed put IVC ahead, 64-62, and after a stop on the other end, Aldeguer was fouled and knocked down two free throws to put the game away.
