Cornett, Engle combine to propel OCC

COSTA MESA — Orange Coast College center Steve Cornett was establishing himself down low, forcing visiting Cypress to try to double-team him.

Teammate Shaun Engle had an answer for that.

Engle poured in 17 of his game-high 24 points in the second half, leading the Pirates to a 72-66 men’s basketball win Friday in their Orange Empire Conference opener at OCC.

The Pirates were holding a tenuous 58-56 lead with 5:42 left when Engle started to feel it. After steals by Cornett and Shaun Campbell, he drained consecutive three-pointers, giving OCC a 64-56 lead with 4:40 to go.

Cornett (23 points and nine rebounds) and Engle combined for 47 points, which was 65% of the Pirates’ total. That helped OCC (10-9, 1-0 in conference) overcome a shaky shooting night which had the Pirates at 31.4% in the first half and 35.8% overall.

“We’ve got to shoot the ball better,” OCC Coach Steve Spencer said. “It’s tough to win when you’re shooting 35%. Guys have got to make layups and open shots. We’re struggling to do that, and it puts a lot of pressure on your defense. But we caused 33 turnovers tonight.”

The Chargers (6-14, 0-2) came within two points on Rodrigo Carbajal’s layup with 54 seconds left.

But Cornett immediately countered, getting a layup of his own to put the Pirates back up by four.

Carbajal then missed a shot under the basket on the other end, Cornett grabbed the rebound and Cypress was forced to foul.

Engle, a freshman from Dana Point, made two free throws with 17 seconds left to provide the final margin of victory.

Like Engle, Cornett did most of his damage in the second half, when the 6-foot-7 sophomore scored 18 of his 23 points.

“I’m a second-half person, “ Cornett said. “I just seem to pick it up in the second half. Our team played better in the second half, and it’s easier for me to go when our team’s playing well.”

Orange Coast had a five-point halftime lead, but immediately fell behind when Cypress went on an 11-2 run out of the break.

But the Pirates kept battling, taking a 43-41 lead on an Engle three-pointer with 13:08 left in the game.

“They were double-teaming Steve, so I had to knock them down,” Engle said. “I didn’t want to let down my teammates.”

Cornett then scored on back-to-back strong low-post moves, the second of which was a three-point play. After Cornett converted the free throw, OCC had a 48-44 lead with 10:40 left.

“He just took it up to the basket and made layups,” Spencer said. “That’s what he’s got to do. He has got to take his time and relax in there, because he rushes things. But yeah, guys did a better job of getting him the ball and he made some shots. That was the key in the second half.”

Cypress refused to go quietly, tying the score at 56 on Eric Butler’s jumper in the lane with 6:30 left. But OCC scored the next eight points, giving the Pirates a comfortable cushion.

Orange Coast made 24 of 67 shots, while Cypress was 23 of 47. Most of the differential in attempts was due to turnovers.

“That’s how our team plays,” Cornett said. “We press, we run and we go for steals. Some games we get them, and some games we just give up layups. Today, we were just rotating and getting the ball inside and finishing.”

Campbell had a team-high five steals, and all 12 Pirates who played recorded at least one steal.

Spencer said it felt good to get a home win in the conference opener, even if the setting was a bit unfamiliar. The game was just the Pirates’ third home game in 19 contests this season.

Orange Empire Conference

Orange Coast 72,

Cypress 66

Cypress -- Butler 12, Boyd 12, Carbajal 12, Wright 9, Reza 7, Williams 5, Isais 5, Comminey 4.

3-pt. goals -- Comminey 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Orange Coast -- Engle 24, Cornett 23, Milan 7, Gee 5, Caetano 4, Molina 3, Lopez 2, Nwabuzor 2, Ngo 1, Campbell 1.

3-pt. goals -- Engle 4, Gee 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Halftime -- 32-27, OCC.