Gauchos advance in RCC opener

The Saddleback men's basketball team opened up the 43^rd Annual Riverside Holiday Tournament with a 76-63 win over Contra Costa College on Wednesday.  The Gauchos had a four point lead at half before going on a big run in the second half to put the game out of reach.

Saddleback had little to no familiarity with Contra Costa, a program from the northern half of the state that plays in the Bay Valley Conference.  At first it showed, as the Gauchos failed to stop a Comet attack that made 5-of-9 from three-point range in keeping it 40-36 at the half. 

The second half proved to be different as Saddleback went on a 14-2 run to start, opening up an 18-point lead and allowing just one Contra Costa basket over the first five minutes.  The Gaucho defense was so stifling in the second frame that Contra Costa scored only 10 points in the first 13+ minutes in falling to 2-4 on the season.

Saddleback had a huge advantage inside with Conor Clifford (pictured left), who finished with a game-high 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Gauchos ran their record to 10-1 on the season.  Saddleback outrebounded Contra Costa 47-31 for the game, including a 29-17 advantage in the second 20 minutes. 

Saddleback received big contributions off the bench as the reserves outscored Contra Costa 35-15 for the day.  Collin Host came off the bench to score 10 points, Maurice Jones had seven, and Kyle Hoag added five points and six rebounds in just eight minutes of playing time.

Despite the win, coach Andy Ground was still critical of his team.

"We have to be better from the free throw line," Ground said after the 8-of-17 performance at the charity stripe.  "When games get tight we are going to need those points."

The win puts Saddleback into the quarterfinals on Thursday where they will meet perennial power Citrus College (3-4), who upended defending state champion Santa Rosa Junior College 76-55 on Wednesday.  Tip time is set for 1:00 PM at Wheelock Gymnasium.