What was old in new again for the Ventura College men's basketball team. The Pirates welcomed Hall of Fame coach Phil Mathews and the Riverside Tigers to the Athletic Event Center Wednesday, and Mathews' protegee, VC head coach Joey Ramirez and his Pirates held off the Tigers 82-81 in overtime. VC (6-0) was led by Adrian McIntyre's 31 points and Shulton Tobin netted 13 off the bench. The Pirates continue their best start since the 2012-13 season with the triumph.
The Pirates opened the game up early in the first half with a 9-2 run beginning at the 14:47 mark with a free throw by Anthony McIntyre. Tobin scored back-to-back buckets and Adrian sandwiched a pair of field goals around two RCC free throws for an 18-10 advantage with 10:17 left in the half.
Riverside came back to tie the score at 22 with 4:53 left in the half before Anthony hit a 3-pointer and Adrian answered a Tigers' jumper with a lay-up and a triple. Anthony then hit a pair of free throws and Adrian scored the Pirates' final six points of the period and VC led 38-33 at halftime.
RCC scored the first five points of the half before Tobin hit a pair of three's, assisted by Anthony and Stacy Johnson, respectively, for a six point Pirate advantage, 45-39, at the 13:55 mark. the Tigers knotted the score at 47 and 49 midway through the half, then took a 52-49 lead with 8:49 on the clock.
Riverside extended their lead to as many as five points, 64-59, with 3:26 remaining before Adrian started the VC comeback with a pair of scores. Tobin answered a Riverside two with a three to tie the game at 66 at the 1:17 mark, and neither team could find the bottom of the net before regulation time expired, setting up the extra period.
There were multiple ties and lead changes early in the overtime period before Johnson hit a pair of charity tosses and followed with a 3-pointer to open up a five point VC edge. Down the stretch Ventura was 9-10 at the free throw line to preserve the 82-81 win.
Anthony Garza had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds for VC, and Johnson came off the bench to contribute 12 points and six boards. Anthony McIntyre added 11 points to the effort with four assists.
Ventura next hits the hardwoods on Tuesday Nov. 23 at Los Angeles Valley College. Tip-off is slated for 3:00 pm in Valley Glen.