Men’s basketball: OCC falls, 82-70

COSTA MESA - After a tenacious defensive effort gave Orange Coast

College’s men’s basketball a halftme lead, visiting Rivserde got hot and

pulled out an 82-70 victory Friday in an Orange Empire Conference game.

David Castleton scored 25 points for OCC (11-14, 2-7 in conference) to

outduel Riverside’s Kaneem Pelt, who had 24 points. Jeff Beeler was

second on OCC with 16 points. Chad Hagedorn scored 12 and grabbed 12

boards off the bench, and Duc Nguyen had 11 points for the Pirates.

Despite a 35% shooting percentage in the first half, OCC led, 36-32, at

halftime, holding Riverside to 28% shooting.

But the Tigers shot 55% in the second half and outscored the Pirates,

50-34, to pull off the impressive comeback. Brian Collins scored 18

points and grabbed 11 rebounds off the bench for Riverside. The Tigers’

Mike Lewis scored 11, and Jordan Boreman 10 points.

ORANGE EMPIRE CONFERENCE

Riverside 82, OCC 70

Riverside - Boreman 10, Lewis 11, Pelt 24, Baker 3, Noon 3, Link 1,

Erickson 7, Collins 18, N’Sima 5.

3 pt. goals - Pelt 1, Noon 1, Erickson 1.

Fouled Out - None.

Technicals - Lewis.

OCC - Castleton 25, Earl 1, Nguyen 11, Beeler 16, Walters 0, Elliott 5,

Rivera 0, Hagedorn 12.

3 pt. goals - Castleton 3, Nguyen 2, Beeler 2.

Fouled Out - Nguyen, Elliott.

Technicals - None.

Halftime - OCC, 36-32.