In a battle of unbeaten teams, the Pirates' men's basketball team dropped an ultra-close 74-73 decision to Columbia College on the first day of the COS Wyndham / Mannon Classic at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia on Friday. There were six ties and five lead changes in the final 10 minutes of play as the Claim Jumpers hit the game-winning free throws with nine seconds remaining in the game. Adrian McIntyre scored 27 points to lead VC (12-1) while Anthony Garza and Anthony McIntyre contributed 17 and 14 points, respectively.
Columbia took the early lead and held it throughout much of the first half. The Claim Jumpers held a nine-point edge, 16-7 with 13:48 remaining in the half before the Pirates were able to tighten the margin. Adrian Mc. scored on a lay-up, assisted by brother Anthony, and Donavan Williams took an offensive rebound and made a three to quickly shrink the deficit to four, 16-12. After a Columbia bucket, Garza scored from beyond the arc to make it 18-15 at the 11:26 mark.
Ventura continued their push toward the Claim Jumpers, and Columbia continued to hold them off until Miles Ceballos and Adrian Mc. scored on back-to-back possessions to put VC ahead 29-28 with 2:56 on the clock. The teams traded scores until Columbia had an offensive rebound and putback at the buzzer for a 34-31 halftime lead.
Columbia continued to hold a small lead well into the second half, until Adrian Mc. had a steal and assist to Anthony Mc. for two and a 55-55 tie midway through the second half. Michael Noulowe and Adrian Mc. had scores to answer the Claim Jumper buckets, and Adrian Mc. scored with 7:26 remaining for a 61-59 Pirate advantage.
Columbia came right back to re-take the lead, expanding it to 70-65 with 3:33 on the clock before Shulton Tobin and Garza each hit shots to close the Pirates to within 70-69. Adrian Mc. then hit a 3-pointer with 1:41 left to play to put Ventura back ahead, 72-70. That score remained until the Claim Jumpers hit a pair of free throws with 57 seconds remaining, and Adrian Mc. turned around on the next possession to hit one of two foul shots for a 73-72 Pirate lead. Columbia then converted a pair of free throws with nine seconds remaining, and VC was unable to get off a final shot to set the final 74-73 margin.
Adrian Mc. added 12 rebounds to his point total for a double-double, along with four assists and three steals. Anthony Mc. grabbed eight boards with three dimes and Garza pulled in six caroms.
The Pirates will complete their stay in Visalia on Saturday Dec. 18, taking on the College of the Sequoias Giants on the final day of the classic. Tip-off at Porter Fieldhouse is scheduled for 2:00 pm.