Latest win has Gauchos nearing 4th straight title

The Saddleback Gauchos took a giant step towards a fourth straight Orange Empire Conference championship on Friday with a 58-49 win at rival Irvine Valley College.   The Gauchos are now a half-game away with three games remaining on the regular season schedule.

Saddleback and Irvine Valley traded baskets for the first four minutes of the game when the Gauchos went on an 11-point run to take a 16-5 lead with 10:09 remaining in the opening half.  The Lasers would have a hard time cutting into the lead, trailing by eight at the intermission.

Both teams came out ice cold in the second half, with Conor Clifford's lay-up on the opening possession being the only points scored in the first five minutes of the second frame.  IVC would slowly chip away at the lead, eventually cutting it to 49-43 with 4:02 remaining on a Craig Maygar lay-up.  The Lasers had a chance to catch Saddleback as the Gauchos couldn't buy a basket, going 3:40 without scoring a point with the lead dwindling away.  Unfortunately for IVC, they were just as cold, turning the ball over two times and missing its only shot over a 2:23 stretch.  IVC would eventually break the ice when Ronnie Harris made a pair of free throws with 1:39 remaining to cut the lead to 49-45. 

IVC then chose to foul a Saddleback team that has shot 74% from the free throw line for the year.  The Lasers paid a price as the Gauchos buried six straight and 7-of-8 in the final 1:09, giving Saddleback all the points it would need.    Dusty Baker (pictured) made two, Andrew Bournes two and Maleke Haynes 3-of-4 in the closing moments as the Gauchos took a step closer to an OEC title.

Saddleback improved to 25-2 overall and 8-1 in Orange Empire Conference play.  The Gauchos now have a 2.5 game lead over both IVC and Santa Ana…two programs they swept during the course of the season.

Saddleback will look to clinch its fourth straight OEC title on Tuesday when it hosts Fullerton College (3-21, 1-8), a team they defeated 83-54 at Fullerton on January 16 in the first meeting of the season.  Tip time on Tuesday is set for 5:00 PM.