The Ventura College men's basketball team had a difficult first half against Fresno City College Sunday on the final day of the College of the Sequoias Wyndham Classic in Visalia. The Pirates committed 15 turnovers against the Rams in the first 20 minutes, digging a 21 point deficit from which they could not recover in the 76-57 loss. Dayveon Bates had 13 points and nine rebounds, Jelani Bell netted 11 points and Lamont Landers had 10 for VC (7-6).
The precedent was set early as the Pirates had three turnovers on their first four possessions before Tone Patton's 3-pointer made it 7-3 three minutes into the game. A Bates triple and Patton's lay-up brought VC back to within 11-10 with 14:31 remaining in the opening half, and Bell's shot from range two minutes later made it 16-15 for the Rams, but that was as close as Ventura could get. VC trailed 22-19 midway through the period on a jumper by Thomas Dangerfield, but Fresno finished the half on a 20-2 run to claim a 42-21 halftime advantage.
The Pirates hung tough in the second half, but the damage had been done. Fresno rode the momentum to the 76-57 victory.
Ventura will close their pre-Christmas schedule on Thursday Dec. 20 at LA Valley with a 6:00 pm tip-off with the Monarchs.