Tigers Throttle Cal. Miramar Univ. JV, 119-62, Tuesday in Home Opener as part of 45th Annual Riverside Holiday Tournament

RIVERSIDE – Playing its first home game of the season, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's basketball team took awhile to get untracked before posting a 119-62 win over the California Miramar University (CMU) junior varsity Falcons Tuesday (Dec. 6) in the opening round of the 45^th annual Riverside Holiday Tournament at legendary Arthur N. Wheelock Gymnasium.

Riverside (9-3 overall) trailed, 9-3, at the 14:03 mark before leading, 60-31, at halftime. RCC eventually shot 59.5% (22 of 37) from the field, including ten of 16 (62.5%) on three-point field goals. Freshman guard Brandon Thomas (Woodland Hills / Taft HS '16) had 18 of his 21 points in the first half to pace the Tigers. Freshman guard Andre Wilson (Eastvale / Jurupa Valley – Patriot HS '16) had 16 of his game-high 24 points in the opening stanza.

For CMU (1-5 overall), freshman guard Andre Gomez (Sultana HS) and freshman forward Kiman Benson (Bishop Amat HS) each had 18 points to pace the Falcons.

Earlier Tuesday, the East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Huskies trailed, 2-0, then went on a 15-0 run en route to an 80-64 win over the Victor Valley College (VVC) Rams. Freshman forward Roderick Williams (Price HS) poured in a game-high 31 points and a game-high-tying nine rebounds for the Huskies (6-1 overall). Freshman guard Tristen Angelo (DME Academy) had 22 points and sophomore guard Teon McCarter (Mt. Zion HS) had 21 points for the Rams (1-8 overall).

Tuesday's second game saw the Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) Eagles take the lead for good early in the first half, then lead, 32-23, at halftime before posting an 81-70 win over the Barstow College (BC) Vikings. MSHC had five players (four starters) score in double digits, led by sophomore forward Jaryn Taylor (Yucaipa HS), who had 17 points.Sophomore guard Mat Bradshaw (Heritage HS) came off the bench to add 15 points for the Eagles (10-3 overall). Sophomore swingman Jordan Rogers Garcia (Valencia, SPAIN) tossed in a game-high 22 points for the Vikings (3-6 overall).

Tuesday's fourth game proved to be a bit of an upset as the El Camino College-Compton Center Tartars surprised the San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) Wolverines, 91-81. The first half featured four ties and eight lead changes before the Tartars (7-2 overall) managed a 42-38 lead at halftime. Down the stretch, Compton was able to answer every comeback bid by SBVC. Compton had five players score in double figures, led by sophomore forward Michael Chavers (Locke HS), who came off the bench to pump in a game-high 21 points. SBVC sophomore forward Brandon Jolley (Pasadena HS) led SBVC (9-2 overall) with 20 points.

In Wednesday's action, Saddleback (7-2 overall) will face East L.A. at 1 p.m., Fullerton (7-2 overall) will meet Mt. San Jacinto at 3 p.m., Pasadena City (3-4) will take on host Riverside at 5 p.m., and Chaffey (8-2 overall) will greet Compton at 7 p.m.

Tournament action continues on Thursday, Dec. 8, with six games, the first beginning at 9 a.m., and continuing on Friday, Dec. 9, with five games, the first beginning at 11 a.m. All games will be played at Wheelock Gymnasium

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