Men’s Basketball Suffers Late Game Woes in Overtime Loss to Citrus

It came down to the final seconds as the Riverside City College men's basketball team succumbed to a late second-half run by the Citrus College Owls in a non-conference battle and 2019 Southern Regional playoff rematch. After blowing a 17-point advantage, the Tiger fell victim to a late-surging Citrus offense that carted a hot hand from three and the charity stripe.  

The Tigers lead by 11 points with just over eight minutes remaining in the second half, but a 7-1 Citrus run that stretched for three minutes made the game interesting. Riverside kept the Owls at bay as the score swung back and forth with an eight point spread in the Tigers favor until a mini run capped by a three pointer from Citrus brought them within one point of the lead.

Two free throws from freshman guard Courtland Moffatt extended the Tiger lead to four under the three-minute mark, but a made layup and a foul called on the Tigers sent the Owls to the line for a successful three-point play, bringing the Owls back to within one at 62-61.

Sophomore Edwyn Collins followed two possessions later with an offensive tip in to put the Tigers back up by two, but another foul sent Citrus to the line for two converted free throws to keep them alive. Sophomore guard Amir Davis followed on the next possession by surveying the floor and locating open freshman Jalen Monroe who hit a jumper to put Riverside back up by three at 66-63 with just over 20 seconds remaining.

On the next possession, the Owls drained a three pointer to tie the game leading to a Riverside timeout with 30 seconds left. Riverside followed by coughing up the rock, but forced a turnover on the ensuing possession as sophomore point guard Melvin Walker poked in for a steal. The Tigers had a chance to win the game on the final possession of the fourth quarter, but failed to convert leading to overtime at 66-all.

It was a back and forth affair in the final five minutes of the game as the Tigers took the lead on a jumper from freshman forward Robert Ayala. Ayala followed by swatting a Citrus jumper on the ensuing possession, but then turned the ball over.

Davis traded buckets with the Owls on the next two possessions, but Citrus got the last laugh after converting two free throws with under 20 seconds remaining handing the Tigers a 76-74 loss.

Sophomore Zekiah LoVett and freshman Jalen Monroe led the Tigers with 16 points each, while Ayala recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Davis was one bucket shy of a double-double as he finished with eight points and a team-high 12 boards.

Collins came off the bench for 10 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes played. Moffatt led the bench in minutes with 24, dropped five point and reeled in 7 rebounds.