The VC men's basketball team used a 19-7 surge in the game's final five minutes to blow past visiting Oxnard College 89-74 Wednesday night at the Athletic Event Center. The Pirates' dynamic guard duo of Jacob Alonzo and Isiah Reyes led the way once again for Ventura (15-7, 3-0) with Alonzo totaling 19 points, four assists and four rebounds while Reyes turned in 18 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals. Terrell Handy-Johnson scored 14 points with eight rebounds while Malcolm Ruff recorded 10 points and seven boards.
The Pirates gained the upper hand early as a Reyes three followed by a pair of buckets from Ruff gave VC a 7-3 edge two minutes into the contest. Oxnard tied the agme at 9-9, then at 18-18 before taking a brief 20-18 lead with 11:16 left in the first half. Alonzo sandwiched a pair of triples around a Reyes charity shot and the Pirates retook a 25-20 advantage two minutes later. Reyes took a defensive rebound coast-to-coast to complete the 9-0 Pirate run, and John Williams connected for two to give Ventura a 29-21 advantage at the 7:25 mark. OC quickly closed the gap with their own 8-0 run, but two Lamont Landers free throws and a tip-in and dunk by Ruff reasserted Pirate control. Taylor Sturgeon and Reyes followed from range with back-to-back threes and the VC lead went back to 41-29 with 2:50 on the clock. The Condors scored the final six points of the half for a 41-35 halftime score.
The teams remained close as the second half began, with Oxnard pulling back even at 41-41 with 18:25 left in the game. The Pirates responded with an 8-0 run with buckets by Alonzo and Reyes, a free shot from Dondre Watson, a field goal from Landers, and a Reyes charity shot. The Condors kept up the fight, however, and the game was tied at 51, 53 and 55 by the 12-minute mark. Ruff made a jumper with 11:37 on the clock to give the Pirates the lead for good, and Reyes followed up with another deuce. Terrell H-J scored three consecutive baskets, the final one a slam dunk, and VC led 65-60 with 9:14 remaining. Oxnard closed to within 70-67 with 7:25 left to play, but could get no closer.
The score remained 70-67 for over two minutes before the Pirates began to pull away. Watson hit a jumper before Terrell H-J made two free throws, and Isaac Ramirez hit for three to make it 77-67 with 4:15 on the clock. The Condors brought it back to within 79-72, but a 3-point play from Terrell H-J at the 1:46 mark ended the Oxnard threat. VC won going away, 89-74.
Ramirez turned in nine points on three 3-pointers and four rebounds in the effort for VC.
The Pirates will next travel to Santa Barbara on Saturday Jan. 27. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm at the SBCC Sports Pavilion.