Williams provides spark in OT win

The Saddleback men's basketball team won its third straight game with a 77-73 overtime victory over Glendale College inside the Saddleback Gymnasium on Monday afternoon.  Deviian Williams scored a season-high 29 points in the win.

Williams entered the game scoring just 5.6 points-per-game with a total of 73 points heading into the game on Monday.  He came out of the game averaging 7.3 after guiding the Gauchos to their ninth win of the year.

Williams was red hot all afternoon, finishing 12-of-18 from the field.  He also tied for the team lead with 10 rebounds and led the squad with four assists.

Saddleback started slowly and fell behind 13-5 over the first eight minutes of the game.  The Gauchos then scored eight straight points, with the final two baskets being assisted by Williams.

Saddleback took a 23-22 lead when Williams buried a three-pointer with 5:16 remaining in the half.  It was the last time Glendale would see the lead for the remainder of the game.

Saddleback took a 32-31 lead into the locker room and came out quickly in the second half.  The Gauchos went on a 12-2 run to start the second half in taking a 44-33 lead with 16:37 left in regulation after a Williams' jumper found the bottom of the net.

Glendale battled back, chipping away at the lead as Saddleback went cold from the field.  Glendale scored 14 of the next 20 points in cutting the Saddleback lead to 50-47 with just over 11 minutes remaining.

The two teams remained close for the next six minutes as the teams traded baskets.  Saddleback looked as if they were going to go on a run to win the game with under 10 minutes remaining, and Glendale would answer with a run of their own.

Saddleback led 65-58 with under three minutes remaining when Glendale made yet another run to close out the second half.  The Vaqueros trailed by three with under 10 seconds remaining when Joel Finney dribbled around the circle in an attempt to tie the game with a final shot.  Finney made good on his shot at the final buzzer, sending the game into overtime.

Saddleback never trailed in overtime, scoring the first five points in the opening two possessions.  Williams buried a three-pointer for a 75-70 lead with 2:35 remaining, which would be the eventual game-winner as the Gauchos held on for a 77-73 win.

Saddleback had a massive size advantage on the court and it showed up in the final stats.  The Gauchos outrebounded the Vaqueros 47-31, which was big down the stretch.

Saddleback is now 9-5 overall and 2-0 in Orange Empire Conference play heading into a big showdown with Santiago Canyon College (14-0, 2-0) on Friday night.  The Gauchos host the Hawks at 5:00 PM inside the Saddleback Gymnasium.