Glendora CA (Men’s Basketball) -- Sophomores Keith Thompson and Jose Rivera combined for 36 points on 13 for 21 shooting (61.9%) as they helped lead the Fighting Owls to an 18-point, 94-76 win over Canyons College on Wednesday night. The pair splashed shots from all over the floor with Rivera draining six threes, and Thompson adding two as they both scored a team high 18 points apiece.
It was Rivera who would open things up the right way as he drilled his first shot of the game (a trey) to give Citrus an early 3-0 lead. After that though, Canyons would hang around for eight minutes, taking the lead on three different occasions in the opening minutes.
The Cougars largest lead would be five points after a Brannon Bradley 3-pointer, but Citrus answered with a 13-2 run capped off by a Randy Hunter fast break lay-up that gave them a 24-18 lead with 9:21 to go in the half. Citrus really began to turn it on in the final four minutes of the first half. The Fighting Owls scored 16 of the final 20 points of the half taking a comfortable 48-32 lead into the break.
In the second half, Citrus maintained control throughout keeping their lead in comfortable double-digits. The closest the Cougars would get was when they drew to within 10 after back to back Parker Dominguez jumpers in the paint. The Fighting Owls followed it up with back to back three pointers from Thompson and Rivera that kick started another strong Citrus run as they scored 10 unanswered points to take a commanding 85-65 advantage and putting the nail in the coffin for Canyons.
Joining Thompson and Rivera with double-digit scoring nights were Randy Hunter (15) and Tom Granado (13). Hunter also pulled down a team high seven rebounds in the process, while Rivera and freshman Derrick Rodgers both dished out a team high five assists.
With the win, the Fighting Owls guaranteed their fourth straight 20 win season, a program first. Citrus’ record moved to 20-2 overall and 6-0 in WSC South play, while Canyons falls to 12-10 and 3-3. Wednesday night’s game marked the end of the first round of the WSC slate. Citrus kicks off the second round this Saturday with a home game against #17 Bakersfield College (18-4, 4-2). Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM.
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