Tigers Tame #4-ranked Rams as RCC edges Fresno City, 58-56

Ireland Drains Deep Three-pointer with 40 seconds left for Win:

RIVERSIDE – In a key intrastate contest, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's basketball team outlasted the visiting Fresno City College (FCC) Rams, 58-56, in a non-conference contest Wednesday evening at the newly renovated Wheelock Gymnasium.

Riverside City (8-4) trailed, 56-55, with one minute to go before sophomore guard-forward Bernard Ireland (Rialto / Eisenhower HS) drained a 27-foot, three-point field goal with 40 seconds left for the win. Sophomore guard Mason Biddle (Riverside / Arlington HS) delivered the inbounds pass for the assist.

Fresno City (11-5), the number four-ranked team in the state, posted its biggest first-half lead at 23-15 with 6:05 left before Riverside went on a 9-0 run for a 24-23 edge with 53 seconds left before the Rams took a 25-24 lead into the locker room at halftime. RCC had its biggest lead at 48-40 with 9:53 remaining.

Fresno City, which inserts five fresh players just about every minute or so, was coming off a 79-65 non-conference win at Saddleback College Tuesday night.

Sophomore forward Shannon Fowler (Corona / Roosevelt HS) led the RCC Tigers with 14 points and a co-team-high seven rebounds. Ireland (seven rebounds) and Biddle (four assists, three steals) each finished with ten points.

For Fresno City, forward Junior Morgan led the Rams with a game-high 19 points and ten rebounds. Udun Osakue added 12 points and six boards for the Rams.

Both teams will be idle until after Christmas. Riverside returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 27, when it faces the MiraCosta College Spartans in the College of the Canyons Tournament. Fresno City will be idle until Friday, Dec. 28, when it meets Butte College in the Allan Hancock College Tournament.