Orange Coast College

Men's Basketball: Pirates run into hot Hornets, fall 86-59

Friday, February 08, 2008

COSTA MESA -- While the Orange Coast College men's basketball team did a good job at limiting the number of shots taken by visiting Fullerton, the Hornets simply solved that problem by making nearly everything they threw towards the basket.

Hitting 73.9 percent of their shots (17-of-23), the Hornets jumped ahead and cruised to an 86-59 Orange Empire Conference win over the host Pirates on Friday night at the Peterson Gym.

The Hornets (21-5, 8-1 in OEC) "cooled" off in the second half, hitting 56.7 percent from the floor (17-of-30), giving the Pirates (7-19, 2-7) no room for error.

Shaun Engle led OCC with 16 points, while Brian Helmuth added 14 points and five rebounds and Brian Gee hit four 3-pointers for 12 points.

Mike Cox led the Hornets with 22 points. Warren Fuselier added 18 points and Justin Carter contributed 16 points and seven rebounds.

Despite the white-hot shooting by the Hornets, the Pirates trailed by just 10 at the half, but a 14-3 run to start the second half by Fullerton did the hosts in.

OCC returns to action on Friday at Riverside, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Following another road game at Saddleback on Wednesday, Feb. 20 (7:30 p.m.), the Pirates will wrap up the regular season at home against Santa Ana, also at 7:30 p.m.