Walnut, Calif. – In another dramatic overtime battle, the No. 11 Mt. SAC Men's Basketball Team triumphed over No. 6 Santiago Canyon, 95-91, on Wednesday, November 20. The victory keeps the Mounties undefeated at 6-0, while handing the Hawks their first loss of the season, dropping them to 5-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Mounties got off to a strong start in the first half with a high-powered offense led by Jon McCullough and Jaidyn Simpson. McCullough's sharpshooting from beyond the arc and Simpson's dynamic playmaking fueled Mt. SAC's momentum. Contributions from Marvel Chambers and Kenneth Brown added critical second-chance points and defensive stops. Despite turnovers, the Mounties capitalized on Santiago Canyon's errors, securing a 52-43 lead at halftime.
Although Mt. SAC led for most of the game, Santiago Canyon came out strong in the second half, stifling the Mounties' offense while scoring 40 points of their own. McCullough and Ryan Wheeler each added 9 and 6 points, respectively, while Brown grabbed 6 rebounds to help maintain a slim lead. Santiago Canyon's EJ Bryson and Trevor Manning each contributed 11 points, leading the Hawks to tie the game at 83 by the end of regulation.
In overtime, the Mounties showcased their grit and determination. Wheeler took charge, scoring 8 points, including a thunderous dunk and crucial layups. Santiago Canyon's Tony Colley and Manning fought to close the gap, but missed shots and Mt. SAC's relentless rebounding impeded their efforts. The Mounties' strong defense and clutch shooting sealed a hard-earned victory in a tense extra period.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Jon McCullough: Game-high 30 points, 6 rebounds, 6 three-pointers
- Ryan Wheeler: 14 points, 7 rebounds, clutch in overtime
- Jaidyn Simpson: Double-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds
- Jimmy Baker: 9 points, 6 assists off the bench
- Trevor Manning (Santiago Canyon): Team-high 22 points, 7 assists, perfect 9-9 from the line
- Tony Colley (Santiago Canyon): 18 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals
TEAM STATS:
- Shooting: Mt. SAC – 49.3% (34-69); Santiago Canyon – 40.2% (33-82)
- Three-Point Shooting: Mt. SAC – 55.0% (11-20); Santiago Canyon – 27.5% (11-40)
- Rebounds: Mt. SAC – 53; Santiago Canyon – 39
- Turnovers: Mt. SAC – 17; Santiago Canyon – 8
UP NEXT:
The Mounties hit the road to face Riverside City College (4-2) on Tuesday, November 26, at 1:00 PM.
STAY CONNECTED:
Follow Mt. SAC Men's Basketball on twitter @MtSAC_MBKB or Instagram /mt.sacbasketball/
Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on twitter @MtSAC_athletics Instagram /mtsac_athletics/ or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.