OCC remains undefeated in conference

Pirates avenge early-season loss to Santa Ana with a lopsided victory -- their fourth straight conference win.COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men’s basketball team hasn’t done a lot of losing this season, one of its better campaigns in recent memory so far. But losses were a focal point in the Pirates’ Orange Empire Conference game against Santa Ana.

The Pirates lost to Santa Ana in November in a tournament matchup. Since then, Orange Coast has done plenty of winning, including Wednesday night’s 78-54 victory over the Dons, avenging an 80-70 loss at the Neil Edwards Holiday Tournament.

The Pirates (17-7, 4-0) have opened conference play with four consecutive wins and are tied for first with Fullerton (23-0), which is ranked No. 1 in the California Community College Men’s Basketball Coaches Assn. poll.

“This is the best start we’ve had in a long time,” Orange Coast Coach Steve Spencer said. “The guys like each other and are playing as a team.”

The Pirates set the tone early, applying defensive pressure from the opening tip-off and holding the Dons to 16 first-half points.

“We really played with defensive intensity in the first half,” Spencer said. “It was all about defense and rebounding. That’s what got it started for us.”

Orange Coast went strong to the boards, outrebounding Santa Ana 25-14 in the first half. Center Steven Cornett had seven of his team-high eight rebounds in the first half and finished with eight points. Power forward Matt Davis added 12 points and six rebounds.

The Pirates finished with 44 rebounds to Santa Ana’s 26.

“Cornett and Davis did a good job on the boards and a nice job offensively,” Spencer said. “It helps having Davis in the lineup, he’s been battling a bad back. It gives us nice inside-outside balance. We can’t just jack up threes and not have anything inside.”

The Pirates’ inside game gave their shooters room outside, as Orange Coast knocked down 11 of its 24 three-point shots. Steve Mendoza was 4 of 8 from three-point land to lead the Pirates. Reggie Brown and Greg Okwudibonye added two three-pointers each.

Brown’s second three-pointer gave the Pirates a 19-point lead late in the first half. Brown finished with a team-high 17 points.

“Our post players were being real aggressive, and that opens us up on the outside,” Brown said. “They played a big part in getting me open.”

The Dons (9-14, 0-4) pulled as close as 49-35 on a three-pointer by Brandt Bangs (13 points). The Pirates responded by going inside to Davis on their next two possessions and he came through with four points.

Lance Ortiz converted on a three-point play and Brown hit 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch.

The Pirates, ranked No. 14 in the state, host Irvine Valley on Friday before playing at Fullerton on Wednesday.

“We’re focusing on playing with consistency,” Brown said. “We have to be ready for the real big games, like against Fullerton.”

Orange Empire Conference

Orange Coast 78,

Santa Ana 54

Score by Quarters