COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL : Rancho Santiago’s Streak on Line

Rancho Santiago College faces Cypress at 7:30 tonight in the start of the second round of Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball play at Rancho Santiago.

Rancho Santiago (24-1, 6-0 in conference) has a one-game lead over second-place Cypress (18-8, 5-1).

Both teams bring winning streaks into the game, but Cypress’ five-game run is much more modest than Rancho Santiago’s 21 in a row. Rancho Santiago has been the the top-ranked team in the state all season. The Dons are the defending state champions.

Cypress’ most recent lost was to Rancho Santiago in the conference opener, 99-92, Jan. 3.

For Cypress to win, the Chargers will have to do a better job of containing Rancho Santiago’s front line of center Corie Blount and forward Erik Martin.

Martin scored 32 and Blount 28 in the first meeting. Cypress forward Eric Pauley countered with 31.

The seven-point victory by Rancho Santiago was its smallest margin of victory this season. All the others have been by at least 12 points.

Fullerton (12-12, 1-5) is at Saddleback (12-10, 3-3) and Orange Coast (11-12, 1-5) is at Golden West (10-14, 2-4) in other 7:30 p.m. games.