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MEN'S BASKETBALL: Citrus Battles in Final Away Contest

Toby Okwuokei led the Owls with 19 points and 10 rebounds and five assists. Photo by: Brianna Jara
Toby Okwuokei led the Owls with 19 points and 10 rebounds and five assists. Photo by: Brianna Jara

Citrus College took it down to the wire, but dropped a 74-66 loss to Antelope Valley College Wednesday night.

The Fighting Owls fall to 18-9 overall, 10-3 in the Western State Conference, while the Marauders improve to 13-14 on the year and 8-5 in the WSC.

Toby Okwuokei led the Owls with 19 points and 10 rebounds and five assists. Kendal Frey chipped in 15 points (4-for-9), while Leonard Turner (3-for-7) and Tyree Winborn each had nine points on the night. 

It took a while for Citrus to get going, finding itself trailing by almost 10 points in the first 10 minutes of action, but Okwuokei sparked a 7-0 run with just under seven minutes left in the first to tie the game at 23-23. Winborn knocked down two free throws, before rattling in a triple to even the score. 

The Marauders tried to create some distance before halftime, but the Owls wouldn't let the home team get too far out in front and walked into the break trailing by two possessions, 37-32.

Turner got things going in the second half, finding a lane and driving to the basket to put Citrus within three, 37-34. About a minute later, he drained a shot from the perimeter to once again tie the game up.

AVC built up a double-digit cushion, but Citrus kept patient and pulled within two, 66-64, with less than four minutes remaining on the clock. 

The Owls got stops they needed on defense, but just couldn't get the ball to fall on the other end of the court as the Marauders held off the visitors for the 74-66 victory. 

Citrus has one game left before postseason, hosting Glendale College on Friday at 7:00 p.m.