Riverside Earns Co-Conference Championship for Second-Consecutive Season

The Riverside City College men's basketball team defeated the Cypress College Chargers, 92-72, to earn their second-consecutive Orange Empire Conference (OEC) Co-Conference championship.

The Tigers ended the regular season on a 12 game winning streak with big victories highlighted by wins over No. 5 Santiago Canyon and No. 2 Fullerton. They will share the championship trophy with Fullerton once again.

The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) playoffs will begin with round one on Tuesday, March 1. The Southern regional seeding meeting will take place this Sunday, February 26 where Riverside is expected to be granted a top-four seed.

In the middle of winning another conference title, the Tigers honored six sophomores prior to tip off that featured Melvin Walker, Amir Davis, Edwyn Collins, Zekiah LoVett, Robert Ayala and Sammy Richardson. The six sophomore are responsible for 45 total wins, 28 conference victories, one state championship berth and two conference titles.

The Tigers played like champions tonight as they handled the Chargers with ease in nearly every offensive category. They shot 57.7 percent from the floor which included a 52 percent (13-for-25) clip from long range. Seven different players hit three pointers on the night.  

Ayala, who had scored a combined 25 points in the past five games, erupted for a career-high 30 points. He went 13-for-19 from the floor which included a pair of three pointers. He added four rebounds, two steals and a block as well.

On the other end of the ball was Walker who facilitated nearly every one of Ayala's baskets. He dished out six assists to go along with 15 points of his own. He hit three triples and pocketed two steals as well.

LoVett, who was sluggish in the beginning, finished with 14 points on a 4-for-5 shooting mark from down town. Collins had 11 points with four assists and a block, while Davis finished with seven rebounds, six assists, six points and three blocks.

Freshman Jalen Monroe had a solid night off the bench by dropping eight points and reeling in four rebounds.