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COLLEGE BASKETBALL : Community College Roundup : Saddleback Toes the Line, Wins, 75-73

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Times Staff Writer

Saddleback College made some clutch free throws Tuesday night and Santa Monica didn’t as the Gauchos won in overtime, 75-73, in one semifinal of the Rancho Santiago men’s basketball tournament at Rancho Santiago.

Santa Monica’s Deshawn Pullard missed the front end of a one-and-one with Saddleback ahead, 74-73, with six seconds left for Santa Monica’s final miss.

Saddleback’s Joe Hudson, who led the team with 20 points, then got the rebound, was fouled and made one free throw. Santa Monica couldn’t get a shot off in the final four seconds.

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Santa Monica (13-6) made 21 of 32 free throws and Saddleback (11-6) made 23 of 30 but made 8 of 11 in overtime.

Santa Monica had three chances to win the game at the end of regulation but failed.

Troy Batiste of Santa Monica made one free throw to tie the score, 63-63, but missed the second with 10 seconds left.

Santa Monica’s Keith Amerson rebounded the missed shot and was fouled. But he missed both free throws with three seconds left and the game went to overtime.

Saddleback plays Long Beach in the championship at 8 tonight and Santa Monica plays Rancho Santiago for third place at 6 p.m.

In other Rancho Santiago Tournament games:

Long Beach 89, Rancho Santiago 82--Darren Rector scored 23 points to lead Long Beach in a semifinal game. Alonzo Jamison led Rancho Santiago (12-5) with 24 points before fouling out.

Tustin Marines 75, Fullerton 71--Fullerton missed two free throws and had two turnovers in the final 35 seconds and was eliminated. Troy Joseph led Fullerton with 24 points and teammate Geoff Adams had 19.

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In the Palomar tournament:

Cypress 67, Citrus 53--Jeff Green, a sophomore forward, scored 23 points and had 11 rebounds to lead the Chargers in the consolation semifinal.

Cypress (13-4) plays Glendale, a 87-50 winner over Mt. San Antonio, in the consolation championship game at 2 today.

Jim Sammon scored 14 points and John Vranes had 10 points and 9 rebounds for the Chargers.

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