The Pirates' men's basketball team used a 14-5 run in the final five minutes of the first half and never looked back in their 86-73 victory over Canyons at the Irvine Valley Classic Friday. Marcus Watson and Adrian McIntyre scored 21 and 20 points, respectively, while Caleb Geisendorfer had 16 points and 11 rebounds in his first start of the season to lead the way. Tony Njia recorded 11 points with five assists off the bench for Ventura (3-2).
The Pirates and Cougars were evenly matched over the first 15 minutes of play with five ties and six lead changes. Watson's jumper at the 5:15 mark of the first half gave Ventura the lead for good, and Landreau Tate's free throw and a deuce from Geisendorfer from Njia's assist extended the advantage. Landreau made a lay-up and Anthony Garza answered a Canyons score Njia's three and Watson's drive for two made it 39-29 with 14 seconds left in the half. VC led 39-30 at intermission.
CoC tried their best to climb back into the game, opening the second half on an 8-2 run to close to within 41-38. McIntyre stopped the Cougars in their tracks with consecutive buckets and Njia connected on a pair of charity shots to move VC back up by nine. Geisendorfer made two free throws midway through the second period to make it 63-47 for the Pirates as they maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game. Max Kadlec made a three at the 3:58 mark to make it 78-62 for Ventura and Watson's lay-up on the next possession maintained the advantage. Njia hit another free shot with under two minutes remaining to give VC its biggest lead of the game, 83-66, as the Pirates closed things out for the 86-73 triumph.
McIntyre added eight rebounds, five assists and four steals to his line score and Watson pulled in seven boards with four dimes and four thefts.
VC will next travel to Wilmington on Wednesday Nov. 17 to take on Los Angeles Harbor College. Tip-off with the Seahawks is scheduled for 5:00 pm.