Moorpark Finds Hill Too Tough to Climb, 83-68

It was another episode of the Hill Avenue blues for the Moorpark College men’s basketball team Wednesday night.

The Raiders were defeated, 83-68, by Pasadena City College--Moorpark’s third loss in 3 nonconference meetings with the Lancers this season.

It was also Moorpark’s third defeat in 4 games at Pasadena, which is located at the corner of Hill Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. The Raiders previously had lost 2 of 3 games in the Pasadena tournament.

They should learn to be careful out there.

“I’m not sure we want to play them three times next year,” Moorpark Coach Al Nordquist said. “They’re tough.”

Moorpark (8-7) was tough as well in the early going, bolting to a 10-0 lead on 2 jump shots by Roger Thomas and a pair of 3-point baskets by Sean Young. But the Raiders missed 10 of their next 11 shots and made just 4 of 19 the rest of the half as Pasadena (12-3) climbed back into the game.

The Lancers knotted the score, 12-12, with 11:31 left in the half and moved out to a 38-23 advantage by intermission.

“We were able to do what we wanted to do for the first 10 minutes, then they put pressure on us and our guys came apart,” Nordquist said.

Moorpark played without starting forward Steve Murphy, who has a sprained ankle.

The Raiders committed 21 turnovers and fell behind by as many as 27 points in the second half.

Sophomore center Alex Porter led the Raiders with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Freshman Charlie Cangelosi came off the bench and contributed 10 points.

Pasadena received 22 points and 9 rebounds from Kirk Wagner.