Gauchos too much for Tigers in Modesto opener

The Saddleback men's basketball team opened the Modesto College Tournament with a 74-58 win over Reedley College on Wednesday night in Modesto.   The Gauchos will play Cuesta College in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.

Saddleback was looking to break a two-game slide after a long road trip to Modesto for a four day, 16-team tournament in the Central Valley.  The Gauchos got off to a good start and never looked back in advancing to the quarterfinals. 

Saddleback wrestled control in the opening half, taking a 42-29 lead into the locker rooms at the intermission.  J.J. Overton (pictured) had 11 points in the opening half while Chance Kalaugher came off the bench to score eight of his own.    Overton would finish with a team-high 15 points while Kalaugher had a season-high 11 points for the night.

After a couple of poor performances from the free throw line in the Palomar Tournament two weeks ago the Gauchos have gotten things turned around.  Saddleback finished 12-of-14 on Wednesday to raise their season average to 67%.  The Gauchos are now 30-of-37 (81%) over the past two games heading into the quarterfinals on Thursday night.

Saddleback will play Cuesta College in a red-eye special on Thursday night, as the two squads are not set to tip off until 9:00 PM.  Cuesta (3-6) advanced to the quarterfinals with a 73-69 win over Cosumnes River College.