Men’s Basketball Snaps Four Game Skid

A strong opening 10 minutes of the contest set the tone early for the Riverside City College men's basketball team as they played host to the Citrus College Owls on Saturday afternoon. Despite a late surge from the Owls in the ladder part of the first half, the Tigers controlled the contest from the tip leading to a commanding 90-76 victory.

Riverside outplayed the Owls in every category besides rebounding due in part to sophomore center Justin Motely fouling out in the first half of play. Despite the lack of height down low, Riverside shot 54.2 percent from the floor and committed only 10 turnovers on the night as opposed to the Owl's 19. More than half of their points came down low as they scored 54 points in the paint and 17 points in transition.

While the starting five seems to fluctuate week by week, Head Coach Philip Matthews may have found a handful of weapons to keep locked and loaded. Freshman forward Sammy Richardson exploded for 25 points and 11 rebounds to mark his first-career double-double. He was recorded a season-best 11-for-13 mark from the floor which included only one three ball. He was deadly in transition highlighted by a two handed slam off a steal from freshman guard Melvin Walker late in the second half.

Freshman Edwyn Collins was the top scorer in the game with 27 points on a 10-for-18 shooting night. He made it to the line for 10 free throws and buried six. Walker followed with 15 points accompanied by five assists.

Freshman guard Amir Davis provided quality minutes off the bench leading to seven points in 28 minutes of action. Sophomore center Darius Ware hauled in six boards and scored the opening basket for Riverside.

Riverside (4-4) will continue action at home for the 2019 AHF Riverside Holiday Classic beginning with a game against Cerritos on Wednesday, December 4 at 7 p.m. Watch live on Riverside Athletics YouTube Channel.