Riverside Snaps Six Game Skid with Nail Biter over Orange Coast

A sluggish first half set up an intense final 20 minutes as the Riverside City College men's basketball team played host to the Orange Coast College Pirates in conference play. The Tigers found themselves down by one point in the final minute after leading for the duration of the second half. A huge three pointer by freshman guard Tomi Adesiji put them back up by two and eventually handed the Tigers a 74-71 lead.

Both teams trade buckets down the stretch, but the Tigers continued to maintain a steady lead. Two free throws by freshman guard Darius McClain at the two minute mark kept Riverside in the driver's seat until Orange Coast buried two consecutive shots to grab a one-point advantage.

Adesiji, who was coming off a 20 point game in a loss to Ventura, hit the biggest shot of his career by draining a triple with a minute left. McClain finished the job by hitting three of four free throws down the stretch handing the Tigers a victory; their first since early December.

Sophomore forward Jalen Monroe carried the bulk of the offense with a career-high 16 points on a 5-for-7 night from the floor. He was one rebound shy of a double-double.

Numerous second half adjustments needed to be made and Monroe credited Head Coach Phil Mathews on his halftime scheme.

"Coach told us to focus and tighten up and that's what we did," said Monroe. "We just needed to play harder."

A six-game losing streak was the longest under Mathews, but a win like this can spark a run much like it did during the 2019-20 campaign.

"We need to play a little bit harder, a little more aggressive and get all the 50/50 ball to make it closer."

McClain followed with 15 points and two assists, while Adesiji lit up the floor in the second half with 10 points.

Riverside dominated the glass by outrebounding the Pirates by 20 rebounds. They turned the ball over four more times to prove that their offense is not truly where it needs to be. Nevertheless, 20 bench points and 30 points in the paint give the Tigers the cushion they needed.

The bench was led by freshman guard Troy Barbarin Jr. who finished with nine points all coming from distance.