THE COLLEGES : Rancho Santiago Gets a Shot at First

Rancho Santiago College will play host to Cypress in a men’s basketball game tonight with a chance to gain a share of first place in the Orange Empire Conference.

Cypress (25-5, 7-0) holds a one-game lead over Rancho Santiago (21-6, 6-1) with three games left in conference play. Cypress defeated Rancho Santiago, 88-78, in the teams’ first meeting.

Rancho Santiago struggled against Orange Coast Wednesday but won, 64-63. The Dons were playing without Tony Smalley, who was injuried Tuesday in a freak accident.

Smalley, a freshman forward from Servite High School, fell in the shower at school, chipped three teeth and suffered minor nerve damage in his jaw. Smalley, who is averaging 12 points a game, is expected to play in tonight’s 7:30 game.

Guard Kenny Amman leads Rancho Santiago, averaging 20 points a game. Forward Alonzo Jamison averages 17.

Cypress has won 10 consecutive games and is led by guard Jim Sammon (15 points a game) and forwards Kris Brodowski (10) and Jeff Green (12).

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Saddleback (17-8, 5-2) is at Orange Coast (15-14, 2-4) at 7:30 p.m. Saddleback is led by forward Vincent Smalls (17 points a game). OCC’s David Miles, who scored a career-high 36 points against Rancho Santiago Wednesday, leads the conference in scoring at 22 points a game.

In the South Coast Conference:

Mt. San Antonio (7-17, 2-9) plays at Golden West (13-14, 3-8) at 7:30 p.m.