Tigers Fall to Fullerton, 81-72, Wednesday; Next Home Game is February 8 versus Saddleback

RIVERSIDE – Falling behind in the last minute of the first half, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's basketball team was unable to get over the hump and dropped an 81-72 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) game to the Fullerton College Hornets Wednesday evening (Jan. 18) at legendary Arthur N. Wheelock Gymnasium.

Riverside (15-6, 2-2 in OEC) led 33-32, with under a minute before halftime, but a Hornet layin and buzzer-beating jumper by sophomore guard Ian Fox (Redondo Beach / Redondo Union HS) gave Fullerton (15-5, 4-0 OEC) a 37-34 halftime lead which it would never relinquish. 

The Hornets shot 60% (30 of 50) for the game, including 55.6% (15 of 27) in the first half. Conversely, the Tigers managed only 42.9% (21 of 49) for the game.

RCC had four players (three starters) score in double figures, led by freshman guard Andre Wilson (Eastvale / Jurupa Valley – Patriot HS '16) with 16. Freshman guard Brae Ivey (Huntington Beach - Edison HS '15) chipped in with 15 points before fouling out. Freshman guard Brandon Thomas (Woodland Hills – Taft '16) added ten points in a starting role and sophomore guard Andy Cleaves II (Riverside - John W. North HS '14) came off the bench to pump in 13 points. 

Freshman forward William "Frankie" McQuay (Moreno Valley – Canyon Springs HS) added eight points and a team-high eight rebounds for RCC.

For the Hornets, Fox tossed in a game-high 18 points and sophomore guard Dillon Reese (Huntington Beach / Lakewood – Mayfair HS) added 17 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Both teams continue OEC action on Friday, January 20, at 7 p.m. when Fullerton hosts the Orange Coast College Pirates and Riverside visits the Cypress College Chargers. 

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