Orange Coast College

Men's Basketball: Home campaign ends with loss to Fullerton

Friday, February 13, 2009

COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's basketball team closed out its home schedule with an 80-62 Orange Empire Conference loss to visiting Fullerton College on Friday night.

It was another physical game for the Pirates (9-20, 2-8 in OEC). After a 60-foul, 70-free-throw game against Cypress two days earlier, Coast and Cypress combined for 55 fouls and 67 trips to the charity stripe.

Martin Whitmore led OCC with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Chris Curtis added 15 points and four boards. Chad Delaney came off the bench and added 11 points and three steals.

It was another solid effort for the Pirates, but down the stretch, the Hornets (17-9, 9-1) proved why they are atop the OEC standings. OCC was down just three (47-44) with 11:30 left in the game before Fullerton pulled away with a 20-5 run.

After five straight points by OCC, the Hornets left no doubt with a 13-2 run to ice the game.

OCC closes out the regular season at Riverside on Wednesday and at Santa Ana on Friday, with both games set to begin at 5:30 p.m.