Strong Second Half Highlights Riverside’s Victory over West LA

Five players on the Riverside City College men's basketball team landed in double-digit scoring on Wednesday night in a contest against the West Los Angeles College Wildcats in the 47^th Annual Riverside Holiday Classic. After owning a slight five-point advantage at the end of the first half, Riverside came out guns blazing in the second half by outscoring the Wildcats 45-29, thus hauling in a 94-73 victory.

Despite jumping out to a 16-point leading in the first seven minutes of the contest, the Wildcats trimmed RCC's advantage to six points at the 10-minute mark. However, the Tigers stepped up their play and regained momentum as the half progressed.

Riverside utilized the sure hand of sophomore guard Cam'Ron Wilson who paced the Tigers in the final minutes of the game by hitting three free throws capped by a thunderous dunk from freshman guard Elbert Bibbs to close the opening half with authority.

Riverside carried their first-half momentum play into the second half with ease. Despite West LA knotting the score up at 59-all just past the 12-minute mark, Riverside utilized a 14-5 run that distanced themselves from the Wildcats for good. It was a three-point clinic within in the span as freshman guard Otto Taylor, sophomore guard CJ Clark, and Wilson each flushed a three pointer. Freshman forward Maurice Tutt and Taylor each notched a layup, while Clark contributed three free throws as well.

Riverside continued to rain threes with Clark and Taylor each hitting another triple each thus leading to a commanding 94-73 victory.

Clark paced the Tigers on offense with 24 points on a 7-for-17 shooting night. While the norm for the sharp shooter is hitting threes, he was most effective driving the lane and converting in transition. He was equally as effective in both halves by netting 10 points in the first half followed by 14 points in the second half. Furthermore, he dished out six assists and hauled in five rebounds.

Freshman guard Tyree Winborn and Wilson teamed up to lead the bench brigade with a combined 30 points which encompassed a 5-for-9 mark from distance. Wilson amassed 16 points, while Winborn chipped in 14.

Tutt recorded his first-career double-double in his fifth start of the season. He flushed 14 points while racking up 11 boards. Sophomore center Franky McQuay was a monster down low by reeling in 10 rebounds, while Taylor finished with 13 points.

The Tigers (6-3) will continue action on Thursday against the East Los Angeles College Huskies at 6 p.m.

Live Stream: RCC Men's Basketball vs. West Los Angeles (Holiday Classic)