SBVC Holds Off Rally by RCC in Victory

SBVC Holds Off Rally by RCC in Victory

You can always count on a men's basketball game between Riverside City College and San Bernardino Valley to keep spectators on the edge of their seats. Tuesday night was no exception. 

SBVC led by 15 points at the half, and by as many as 20 in the second half, but needed a 6-0 run in the final minute to knock off Riverside 80-76 inside the SBVC Athletics Complex.

Sebastian Mendoza's three-pointer with 14:17 remaining in the game put the Wolverines up 60-40. But SBVC went cold from there, as Riverside picked up its defensive pressure. The Tigers chipped away at the lead, going on an 17-4 run over the next six minutes, to pull within seven. Riverside finally caught SBVC with a minute remaining, taking a two-point lead thanks to a three-pointer by Lynden Paul. 

After a missed jumper by Armon Muldrew went out of bounds, the Wolverines pressured the in-bound play and forced a turnover with 42 seconds remaining. Dominique Daniels took the inbound pass and drove the basket to tie the game and sank a free throw after being fouled by Paul, giving SBVC a one-point lead.

On the next time down, Muldrew stole the ball and was fouled. He made both his free throws to make it a three-point game. Aamari Smith pulled down a defensive rebound after Darvelle Wyatt's missed three-pointer. Mendoza got the ball into the front court, where he was fouled with three seconds remaining. He made the first of his two free throws to close out the game.

Daniels led the way for the Wolverines with 35 points, while Mendoza had 16 and Muldrew had 10. Chine Nwaneva had eight points and was credited with three blocked shots.

Darius McClain led Riverside with 17 points, while Courtland Moffatt had 15. Jalen Monroe had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Tigers.