Community College Basketball : Rancho Santiago Fights Back to Beat Orange Coast

Rancho Santiago overcame a 10-point deficit early in the second half to defeat Orange Coast, 66-62, Wednesday night in a men’s Orange Empire Conference basketball game at Costa Mesa.

It was the 19th consecutive victory for the Dons (7-0, 24-3), who have a two-game lead over Saddleback with three conference games left.

The Dons led, 61-60, when guard Simon Thomas made a three-point basket with two seconds left on the 45-second clock and 13 seconds left in the game to give them a 64-61 lead.

Rob Mase made two free throws with six seconds left to cut OCC’s lead to 64-62. But Rancho Santiago’s Chris Jefferson made both ends of a one-and-one with four seconds left to put Rancho Santiago ahead, 66-62.

Jefferson scored 16 points, Thomas 13, Chris Jackson 12 and Howard Cole 11 for the Dons.

OCC (2-5, 20-8) outrebounded the Dons, 41-20, as Matt Judd had 13 and Rob Mase 8. Chuck McGavran scored a game-high 18 for the Pirates.