Saddleback College Gauchos 56, at Riverside City College Tigers 52 (Orange Empire Conf.)

RIVERSIDE – Playing for sole possession of first place in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC), the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's basketball team trailed for nearly the entire game and lost, 56-52, to the visiting Saddleback College Gauchos Wednesday evening at the newly renovated Wheelock Gymnasium.

Riverside City (14-6, 4-1 OEC) led but once briefly, at 48-46, on a driving layin with 1:43 remaining by sophomore guard Dominique Lanier (Lakewood / Lakewood HS) and forged a 49-49 tie with 1:18 left, but the victorious Gauchos canned six of the next eight free throws over a span of 1:09 to lead 55-49 with nine seconds to play.

Both teams struggled on offense. Saddleback (18-4, 5-0 OEC) had what would be its biggest lead of the game at 17-8 with 10:13 remaining in the opening stanza, but then the Gauchos went zero for seven from the field the rest of the period.

The Tigers also were victimized by poor first-half shooting. RCC at one stretch made only one of 17 field goal attempts, but made three of its last four from the floor (4 of 21, 19.0%) and was thankful to trail only 17-15 at halftime.

But sophomore forward Carlton Hayes (Clovis / Clovis West HS) emerged as the go-to guy for the Gauchos and pumped in ten points, including a pair of long-distance daggers, which kept the Tigers at bay for the most part. Hayes garnered a game-high ten rebounds. Sophomore guard Josh Smith (Lincoln HS) poured in 14 points and added nine rebounds for Saddleback.

Lanier topped the Tigers with 19 points and added a co-team-high seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Mason Biddle (Arlington HS) chipped in with nine points.

Both teams continue OEC action on Friday, Jan. 25, at 7:30 p.m. when Saddleback hosts the Santa Ana College Dons and Riverside visits the Irvine Valley College Lasers.