The VC men's basketball team maintained their unblemished conference mark Wednesday with a difficult 87-83 victory over Oxnard at the Athletic Event Center. It was not the team's best outing of the season, and they were pushed by the Condors, but in the end, Shulton Tobin's 3-point play with 32 seconds remaining broke an 83-83 tie to send victory the Pirates' way. Jelani Bell came off the bench with 21 points to lead Ventura (21-2, 9-0).
The Pirates got off to an uncharacteristically slow start as they trailed 2-0 until Aaron Dawoodjee hit a 3-pointer over three minutes into the game. Bell then checked in and gave VC a spark, making two three's and a lay-up to help the Pirates go on a 13-0 run. Bell followed a triple by Kordell Gordon with two more makes from range and Ventura extended its lead to 22-9 with 12:18 left in the first half.
Tobin and Bell hit back-to-back three's and Gordon scored an alley-oop dunk from Tobin and the Pirate advantage stretched to 19 points, 32-13, at the 7:33 mark. The Condors then went on an 11-2 run over the next three minutes to pull back to within 10, 34-24. Max Kadlec ended the skid with a 3-pointer from Adrian McIntyre's assist and Tobin followed with a pair of free throws to reverse the trend. Venture held on to a 46-28 lead at halftime.
Ventura maintained its lead through the early portions of the second half with Dawoodjee hitting a lay-up from Adrian Mc.'s dime for a 65-46 advantage with 12:29 remaining. The Condors came to life at that point, however, going on a 26-7 run over the next seven minutes to tie the game at 72. OC took a 78-77 lead on a 3-pointer with 3:35 on the clock, but Bell had an answer with his own big-time shot from range. Adrian Mc. followed with a score off the drive and the Pirates went ahead 82-78. the Condors came back to tie the game once again at 83 with 1:00 left to play, setting up Tobin's soon-to-follow game-winner.
Bell added seven rebounds to hit 21 points and Tobin dished out eight assists and grabbed four rebounds in addition to his 20 points. Adrian Mc. had 11 points, five boards and four dimes while Anthony McIntyre netted 10 points with 11 caroms. Gordon also totaled 11 points with seven rebounds for the Pirates.
VC next travels to San Luis Obispo on Friday Feb. 18 to take on Cuesta College. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 pm.