Community College Men’s Basketball : Saddleback Beats Fullerton, 80-78, on Miles’ Layup

Saddleback College freshman David Miles’ layup with seven seconds left in overtime led the Gauchos past Fullerton College, 80-78, Monday night in South Coast Conference basketball action at Fullerton.

The Gaucho defense prevented the Hornets from getting a shot off before the buzzer in overtime. The same defensive pressure was not evident near the end of regulation, when Fullerton was able to send the game into overtime.

After Miles hit a short jump shot with seven seconds left in regulation, Fullerton forward Rocco Myers made an eight-foot baseline jumper to tie, 71-71.

“Miles is the guy we look for in key situations like that,” Saddleback Coach Bill Brummel said. “He’s pretty much the guy we want to take the shot and we know he is going to.”

Fullerton was behind by as many as 11 points twice before finally tying Saddleback for the first time with 51 seconds left, 69-69, on a 20-foot jumper by sophomore guard Bart Hakeman. He led all scorers with 20 points. Miles and Bill Sullivan led Saddleback with 16 points.

The Hornets were leading 32-31 with 2:50 to go in the first half but trailed 40-32 going into the intermission as Saddleback made nine straight free throws.

Sullivan hit both ends of one-and-one situation twice, then teammates Doug Lemmon made two and Mike Minier hit both ends of a one-and-one and a technical foul shot to give Saddleback a 40-32 haltime lead.

Fullerton applied full-court pressure in much of the second half to get back in the game.

The win improves Saddleback’s chances of making it to the state playoffs. The Gauchos (6-8) trail the Hornets (7-8) by a half-game for fifth place with two games left. The top four teams from the SCC qualify but second-place Cypress is ineligible.

SADDLEBACK (80)--Lemon 13, Miles 16, Minier 12, Taylor 11, Dwinell 2, Sullivan 16, Desiano 6, Magee 4.

FULLERTON (78)--Mansfield 2, Snow 17, Myers 19, Lewis 4, Crowell 4, Buda 8, Hakeman 20, Melton 4.

Halftime--Saddleback, 40-32. Regulation--71-71.

In other South Coast Conference games:

Orange Coast 69, Rancho Santiago 67--The Pirates scored four points in the final 56 seconds to break a 65-65 tie and then held on for the win at OCC.

Pirate guard Chuck McGavran picked up six assists in the game, putting him one assist shy of the OCC single-season record of 201, set by Craig Falconer in 1967. Falconer is now the coach at Costa Mesa High School. OCC (4-9 and 11-15) is at Compton Wednesday. Rancho Santiago fell to 3-10 and 15-13.

RANCHO SANTIAGO (67)--Moses 18, Martin 6, Cole 6, Shurman 10, Thomas 18, Elliott 7, Quirit 2.

ORANGE COAST (69)--Johnston 8, McGavran 10, Judd 16, Mulcahey 10, Seager 12, Andrasfay 8, Stamps 3, Kelly 2.

Halftime--OCC 33-28.

Cypress 55, Golden West 53--Greg Marusich hit a 15-foot jump shot at the buzzer to give Cypress the win at home. The Rustlers’ Bryon Strachan led all scorers with 25 points. Cypress is 12-1 and 22-5. Golden West fell to 1-13 and 5-20.

Cerritos 99, Compton 80--Tom Tolbert scored 23 points to lead Cerritos to the win at home. Cerritos leads the conference with a 13-1 overall mark. Compton fell to 7-6.