MEN'S BASKETBALL: The VC men's basketball team used a quick start Saturday night to take control early, and hung on down the stretch in their 86-79 win over LA Pierce at the Athletic Event Center. Jalen Young and Jon McMurry each scored 20 points and Vondel Faniel and Anthony Morman posted 15 points with eight rebounds and 13 points with six boards, respectively as VC (9-10, 2-1) won its second straight conference game.
Ventura got out to a quick start, jumping the Brahmas 22-6 in the game's opening 10 minutes. The Pirates were all over the floor defensively, forcing five Pierce turnovers during that span. Offensively, Young sparked the Pirates with a quick 12 points in the opening half, Morman and McMurry pitched in eight and seven points, respectively. Despite the blazing start by the Pirates, who were perfect from the foul line (10-10), 4-7 from 3-point range and 9-16 from two, Pierce was able to get back into the game courtesy of VC turnovers to close the first half. The Pirates held on to a 40-35 lead at the break.
The Brahmas started the final period on a 9-0 run, taking a 44-40 advantage with 16 minutes remaining in the contest. Following a Pirate time out, VC put together a run of their own that ultimately put the game away. The Pirates took a 73-58 lead into the game's final five minutes. LA Pierce would not quit, however, closing to within four points in the final minute before Ventura posted the 86-79 victory.
As a whole the Pirates shot 8-12 from behind the arc, 17-30 from 2-point land and 28-31 from the free throw line. Ventura committed 17 turnovers in the contest, allowing LAPC to keep the score close at the end.
Ventura travels to Santa Barbara City College on Wednesday Jan. 22 for a 7:00 pm date with the Vaqueros before heading to College of the Canyons in Valencia for a 5:00 pm tip-off. Both games can be heard live online on the VC Men's Sports Network and will be preceded by the Pirate women.