Feb. 28, 2018

The victory over Imperial Valley gave the Knight’s men’s basketball team their 21st consecutive win and set them one game away from completing the PCAC South division undefeated for the third consecutive season. The Knights hold a 9-0 record in conference play and 28-2 overall record.

With the blow of the whistle, both teams jumped for the ball. For the first four minutes, it was an even match between the Knights and the Imperial Valley Arabs. With Imperial Valley ahead 3-2, the Knights’ Freshman point guard Joseph Riley made a three point shot, giving them the 5-3 lead.

Thirteen minutes into the game, the score was 17-9 with points made by freshman guard Trevor Drake, sophomore guard Luis Salgado, and sophomore guard Adrian Byrd-Jalinek. Back-to-back dunks came from the Knights’ freshman forward Ethan Esposito and sophomore guard Robert McCoy.

Sophomore point guard Wonder Smith passed to McCoy, who then passed to Esposito. Esposito went for a two point layup, cut right and took the ball in for a dunk. The score was 23-17 Knights with 9:29 minutes left on the clock.

Minutes later, McCoy dribbles into Imperial Valley territory, cutting through players to dunk the ball. The Knights added two more points, giving them the 25-17 lead.

Imperial Valley did not give up without a fight. With four minutes left in the half, the Arabscut the Knights’ lead by 10 points.

By the end of the first half the score was 52-35 City College.

Five minutes into the second half, Imperial Valley’s freshman guard Maurice White dribbled down the court to the free throw line, passed to sophomore guard Marquis Ellison then back to White, who then passed to freshman guard Martin Mendez.

Mendez set up for a three-pointer, took the shot but missed. Sophomore forward Jourdain Richard took the ball to the three point line in a quick recovery. He set up and made the shot, leaving the score at 55-41 Knights.    

The game ended with the final score 106-70 Knights. City College’s Trevor Drake lead the team with 20 points, followed by Robert Taylor and Joseph Riley with 16 points. Isaac Davis lead the team with 12 assists and Joseph Riley with 7 assists.

Imperial Valley’s Marquis Ellison lead his team with 15 points followed by Perry Cromwell, Jourdain Richard and Maurice White with 12 points.

City College’s point guard Isaac Davis said, “I think we started off slow and then second half we realized how we have to start preparing for playoffs and play every game like it’s a championship game. So when we play high caliber teams, we play the right way.”

When asked how the team would be preparing for playoffs, he responded, “It starts with our coaching staff, they push us to the limit and practice every day mainly on defense. Defense leads to a good offense.”

Imperial Valley declined to share their thoughts on the game.

The Knights played their final game of the regular season on Feb. 16, defeating cross-city rivals Mesa College. The win adds a third consecutive undefeated season in the PCAC South, the fourth undefeated season in the past five years, and making  22nd straight win in the season.