For the third season in a row, the San Diego City College men’s basketball team is heading to the Sweet 16 of the California Community College Athletics Association playoffs, according to sdcityknights.com.

The No. 8 Knights (24-5) will go on the road to take on No. 1 Fullerton College (28-1) on March 4. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

“This Saturday will be a good game,” City coach Mitch Charlens said. “They’re gonna be ready and it’s gonna be a tough challenge.”

To advance, City defeated No. 24 Copper Mountain, 66-56, on Feb. 25 to finish undefeated at home this season.

“Copper (Mountain) played us tough,” Charlens said. “They got better from when we played them early in the season. … It’s tough to beat a team three times.”

Sophomore guard Lorenzo Wright (Belleville, Michigan) took over the game for the Knights, leading the team in scoring after coming off the bench.

Wright put up 18 points while shooting 7-of-8 from the field and going 75% from behind the arc. 

“I’m just trying to go out and win,” the 5-foot-10 Wright said. “I’m just trying to get a championship ring this year. That’s it.”  

Wright said he has been working hard in practice preparing for Saturday’s game. 

“I can’t wait. I can’t wait,” Wright said. “All week, (I) just put shots up, put work in and get better each and every day and come out Saturday ready to win.” 

Against Copper Mountain, Harry West Gym was booming with Knights’ fans despite the heavy rain and cold, windy weather. 

“It makes me feel good because everybody wants to see us succeed,” Wright said. “I really appreciate all the people that came out and supported us.” 

The game against top-seeded Fullerton, which has won 21 in a row, will be live-streamed on the official Fullerton College Sports Youtube Channel.

This will be the second time City travels to face Fullerton College this season after losing, 97-84, during the Fullerton Classic on Dec. 8. 

“It’s good that we played them, so we can try to adjust what we did wrong that first time,”  Charlens said. “Our programs have an incredible history. Fullerton is going to be ready.” 

According to sdcityknights.com, this will be the third time in the previous six years that City will play Fullerton in the postseason.

City has won the last two matchups, including the state championship in 2017. 

“(There’s) a lot of history, a lot of different dynamics to the relationship,” Knights assistant coach Joe D’ambro said.  “It’s always a fun game. It’s always a fun thing to be a part of intense high-level basketball.” 

For more information on City sports, visit here. 

Multimedia journalists Steph Washington and Sydney Dull contributed to this report.