By Jimmy Friery
SANTA BARBARA, CA – The Santa Barbara City College Men's Basketball team lost to Moorpark on Wednesday night at home, 73-60.
Moorpark is having a solid season, coming into the matchup 6-1 in conference play, and the Vaqueros played them tough for most of the game.
The Vaqueros found themselves down 5-0 early, scoreless nearly 4 and a half minutes into the game. From there, they exploded for 25 points in just over 8 minutes, taking a 25-18 lead. In the middle 12 minutes of the half, the Vaqueros shot a blistering 13 for 22 (59%), including 3 for 6 from three. Holding the lead to 33-29, SBCC cooled off a tad to end the half, scoreless over the last 4 minutes of the half, which finished tied 33-33.
Isaiah Hicks finished the first half with 14 points, leading the team. William Pace and David Coniglio each had 6 rebounds.
Moorpark struck first out of the break, taking a 42-36 lead 4 minutes in. The Vaqueros would tie the game once again on an Ethan Boness three, now 45-45 with 12 minutes remaining. Aiden Munoz then sunk a three-ball with 10 minutes left, giving the Vaqueros the lead once again, 51-50. Halfway through the second half, SBCC had remained competitive against one of the WSC North's strongest teams.
A couple free throws gave Moorpark the lead, but Tyler Williams flipped that once again—his jumper giving SBCC a 53-52 lead. That would be the final time SBCC would have the advantage, though.
Over the next 5 minutes, Moorpark would grab back the momentum, going on an 11-0 run. A Pace layup brought the Vaqueros to a 63-55 deficit with 3 and a half minutes remaining, but that would be the closest they would get on the way to a 73-60 final score.
Isaiah Hicks finished with 16 points (team lead), 6 rebounds, and 4 assists (team lead). William Pace achieved a double-double with 10 points and a massive 13 rebounds, including 7 offensive.
David Coniglio was all over the statsheet, as well, with 13 points and 7 rebounds. Tyler Williams contributed with 8 points and 6 rebounds.
Neither team got much production from the bench, with the Vaqueros getting 7 points to Moorpark's 3. SBCC outrebounded Moorpark 44 to 36, but lost the turnover battle 21 to 13.
Both teams shot just 25% from three. Moorpark shot 27 for 59 from the field (46%), and the Vaqueros were 24 for 64 (38%).
After the competitive loss, the Vaqueros head to LA Pierce Saturday at 3:00 PM, a rematch of the Vaqueros 79-78 win in mid-January.
