Bobcats win fourth straight

The Saddleback men's basketball team won its fourth straight game with a 56-45 victory over Irvine Valley College on Friday night in Irvine.  The Bobcats clamped down on defense, holding IVC to a season-low in points.

Saddleback is getting hot at the right time and sprinted out of the gate to make quick work of the Lasers on Friday night.  The Bobcats never trailed in the game, opening up a big lead in the first half.

Saddleback held Irvine Valley scoreless over the first three minutes of the game and the Lasers didn't make their second basket until the 10:49 mark of the half.  The end result was an 11-point lead in what would turn out to be a comfortable win.

Saddleback finished with four players in double figures for the night.  James Burries led the Bobcats with 15 points while Nick Bowden had 13 points and Torrance Farr (pictured) and Elijah Al-Debaran had 11 apiece. 

Saddleback's defense was suffocating at times, forcing the Lasers into 14 turnovers while holding Irvine Valley to 34% shooting from the field. 

Saddleback is now 15-8 overall and 7-4 in Orange Empire Conference (OEC) play following the win.  The Bobcats have a chance to move into a tie for second place in the OEC depending on what happens in some of the other games in conference play on Friday. 

Saddleback will try to run its winning streak to five games on Wednesday when it hosts Cypress College inside the gymnasium.  The Bobcats and Chargers are scheduled to tip off at 5:00 PM.