Quick start propels Gauchos past Vikings

The Saddleback men's basketball team opened the Bill Brummel Classic with a 70-44 win over Long Beach City College on Thursday night at the Saddleback Gymnasium.  The Gauchos will face MiraCosta College in the semifinals on Friday.

Saddleback opened up a 35-16 lead at the half, lighting up the nets from the outside.  The Gauchos were 7-of-15 from long range in the opening half while Long Beach couldn't find its range.  Devonte Klines made 2-of-3 from three-point from long range to lead the Gauchos with eight first-half points.  He finished with a team-high 14 points. 

Saddleback came out hot again in the second half, extending the lead to 30 midway through the half.  The Gauchos emptied out the bench down the stretch as all 15 players saw the court.  The bench erupted when Ayman Farah buried a three-pointer from the corner with 2:32 remaining to give Saddleback a 66-38 lead. 

The shooting woes continued for Long Beach in the second half after shooting just 18% from the field in the opening half of play.  The Vikings finished shooting 20% for the game, making just 5-of-24 from long range.

Saddleback will play MiraCosta in the semifinals after the Spartans defeated College of the Canyons, 82-59, earlier in the day.  Game time is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Other scores from the day saw San Diego City College defeat Los Angeles Trade Tech 65-64 and Mt. San Jacinto defeat Irvine Valley, 78-71.