Walnut, Calif. – In a thrilling start to the 2024-2025 season, the Mt. SAC Men's Basketball Team narrowly pulled off an upset against Citrus College, winning 72-70. The Mounties enter the season with an impressive 25-4 record from last year and are ranked No. 11 in Southern California, while Citrus holds the No. 3 spot coming off last season with a 21-8 record.
The game got off to a challenging start for Mt. SAC, as they found themselves trailing 10-0 within the first four minutes. However, the momentum shifted when guard Jimmy Baker scored the Mounties' first points of the season with a layup following a defensive rebound by Kenneth Brown. In the following minutes, the Mounties closed the gap, with Baker hitting a jump shot to make it 12-11.
The first half remained tightly contested, with the lead exchanging hands multiple times. With just 30 seconds left, Brown leveled the score at 32 with a layup. A subsequent foul on Citrus allowed Joel Gado to sink one of two free throws, giving the Mounties a slight lead of 33-32 at halftime.
The second half was a fierce battle, with neither team able to pull ahead by more than four points. In the final 36 seconds, Marvel Chambers tied the game at 70 with a layup assisted by Brown. Head Coach Michael Fenison called a timeout to strategize and motivate the team for a strong finish.
With 18 seconds remaining, Citrus College's Blake Ballard missed a critical layup, which was rebounded by Brown, allowing the Mounties to regain possession. In a dramatic finish, Jon McCullough hit the game-winning jump shot with just three seconds left, putting Mt. SAC ahead 72-70. There was one final timeout, but Citrus was unable to capitalize, allowing the Mounties to secure the victory.
Brown led Mt. SAC with 20 points, while Jaidyn Simpson added 14. The Mounties shot 39.3% from the field (24 of 61) and struggled from three-point range, hitting just 1 of 7 attempts (14.3%). Citrus finished with 25 of 73 field goals, hitting 9 of 27 from three-point range, and converting 11 of 17 free throws. The Mounties capitalized on Citrus' 27 fouls, converting 23 of 33 free throws, which proved crucial in the tightly contested match.
Coach Fenison reflected on the game and on the team's performance saying, "I'm very proud of the young men," Fenison said. "They played hard and with a lot of character. After being down for most of the game, they demonstrated what it means to come together and fight back to win."
Next up, the Mounties will host the Gene Victor Memorial Classic from November 7-9, starting with a game against Copper Mountain at 7:00 PM. Come out and support the Mt. SAC Men's Basketball Team! Go Mounties!
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
