Basketball: Pirates drop season opener

VALENCIA - The Orange Coast College men’s basketball team, under

first-year coach Steve Spencer, dropped its season opener Friday night in

a nonconference game against host College of the Canyons, which rallied

in the second half to win, 76-70.

Stephon Seales (16 points), Ryan Webster (14), Keinan Briggs (14) and

Wyshawn Wade (11) scored in double figures for the Pirates, who led at

halftime, 41-35.

“We were ahead, 55-47 (in the second half), then (the Cougars) scored

some and (the game) was back and forth,” Spencer said. “It was probably

with about 11 minutes left in the game when we were ahead for the last

time, but it was close the whole way until the end.”

Orange Coast plays its home opener Tuesday against Imperial Valley at

3 p.m.