Men’s basketball: OCC men win at the wire

WHITTIER - The Orange Coast College men’s basketball team has won

four overtime games to forge its best start in recent memory. But, with

two seconds left against nonconference host Rio Hondo Tuesday, OCC

freshman Ryan Earl decided to save the Pirates any extra work.

Earl, fouled while attempting a 15-foot jumper, hit one of two free

throws to provide the difference in a 70-69 Pirates victory.

The win, the fifth straight for first-year coach Mark Hill’s squad, ups

the Pirates record to 9-3.

Sophomore David Castleton scored a game-high 22 points, including a trio

of three-pointers, despite missing several minutes of the second half

with a gash over his eye.

Chad Hagedorn added 11 points, while Dave Elliott (nine rebounds) and

Jeff Beeler (eight boards) scored nine points apiece.

Earl finished with eight points, while 6-foot-7 sophomore Robert Cutler

had seven boards.

OCC trailed by two at halftime, then built a six-point lead in the

closing minutes, before having to break a tie in the final seconds.

OCC is off until Dec. 28, when it opens the San Diego Mesa Tournament

against Glendale at 2 p.m.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN

Nonconference

Orange Coast 70, Rio Hondo 69

Orange Coast - Castleton 22, Hagedorn 11, Beeler 9, Elliott 9, Earl 8,

Nguyen 6 , Cutler 3, Rivera 2.

3-pt. goals - Castleton 3, Beeler 3, Nguyen 1.

Fouled out - None.

Technicals - None.

Rio Hondo - Haley 2, Rasheed 11, Johnson 5, Thompson 3, Jones 26,

Alexander 12, Diaz 9, Anchanda 1.

3-pt. goals - Rasheed 2, Johnson 1.

Fouled out - Rangle, Rasheed.

Technicals - None.

Halftime - 41-39, Rio Hondo.