Tigers Throttle Orange Coast, 72-55, in Orange Empire Opener Friday

RIVERSIDE -- Lifting the lid on the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) portion of their schedule, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's basketball team led from the first field goal and cruised to a 72-55 win over the Orange Coast College (OCC) Pirates Friday evening (Jan. 6) at RCC's historic Arthur N. Wheelock Gymnasium.

The Riverside men (14-4 overall, 1-0 OEC) opened with a 9-0 lead and also posted leads of 15-4, 23-6, and 38-16 (with 1:23 left) en route to a 38-21 halftime lead. OCC crept to within 49-42 midway through the second half before RCC regrouped and forged a 64-44 lead with 5:26 left.

RCC freshman guard Andre Wilson (Eastvale / Jurupa Valley - Patriot HS '13) led with a game-high 14 points, followed closely by sophomore forward Rovan Holloway (Fresno / Central HS '15), who added 13 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.

OCC freshman guards Kekai Smith (Kalaheo, [HI] HS) and Nate Harding (Newport Harbor HS) each came off the bench and popped in a team-high ten points for the Pirates (7-10 overall, 0-2 OEC).

The next action for RCC will be on Wednesday, Jan. 11, when the Tigers host the Santa Ana College Dons at 7 p.m.

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