The Pirates' men's basketball team had five players in double-figures, and a sixth with nine points, but could not hold a 10-point lead down the stretch, falling to East Los Angeles 99-94 in overtime Wednesday to begin the Riverside City College Tournament. Adrian McIntyre led the balanced effort with 21 points and six assists and Kai Johnson netted 17. Anthony Garza and Michael Noulowe each posted points and rebounds double-doubles, with 15 and 14, and 15 and 12, respectively. Marcus Watson scored 11 in the setback and Tony Njia recorded nine.
Ventura (8-4) turned a seven-point deficit early in the second half into a 10-point advantage as late as the 6:20 mark. The Pirates led 92-72 before the Huskies mounted a furious comeback, hitting a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left to tie the game at 87, sending it into overtime. In the extra period, ELAC outscored Ventura 12-7 for the victory.
The first half was nip-and-tuck the whole way with neither team able to open up a lead larger than six points. The Huskies held the early advantage before McIntyre converted a Watson assist for two and a 12-11 Pirate margin. McIntyre's three with 10:25 remaining in the first half made it 24-19 for Ventura before East LA came back to take a 29-28 lead four minutes later. Johnson converted McIntyre's dime into a 3-pointer at the 3:47 mark to put the Pirates ahead 39-34, and McIntyre's lay-up made it a six-point game with 2:26 on the clock. East LA then went on a 9-1 run to retake the lead before the Pirates led 47-46 at halftime.
The second half featured wider point swings, but neither team was able to put the other away. The Huskies opened up a 60-53 margin six minutes into play before a 10-0 run by the Pirates changed the momentum. Watson began the run with a lay-up before Noulowe scored six straight beginning with a slam dunk. Garza then added a putback dunk as VC held a 63-60 lead at the 12:39 mark. Noulowe answered an East LA score with a putback and Njia's steal led to a lay-up by Watson. Garza hit one of two free throws and Njia scored on a lay-up to complete a 17-2 Pirate run for a 70-62 margin halfway through the period. Daniel Crocker's jumper extended the VC advantage to double figures, 76-66, and McIntyre's three with 6:20 remaining maintained the lead, 82-72. East LA closed the game on a 15-5 streak to send the game to extra time.
In overtime, Ventura led 92-90 on a pair of Johnson free shots with 3:36 remaining before the Huskies scored six straight to take control. The Pirates were unable to muster another field goal until the final seconds of play in the 99-94 decision.
Statistically the game was also close with East LA outrebounding the Pirates 47-45 and VC handed out two more assists, 19-17. Ventura missed some opportunities, shooting 61 percent from the free throw line, 19-31, but the Huskies fared worse with their 11-22 performance at the charity stripe (50 percent).
Ventura returns to play at RCC on Thursday Dec. 8 against Saddleback. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 pm.