OFFICIAL HOME OF MOORPARK COLLEGE ATHLETICS

The #11 Men's Basketball team traveled to eastern San Diego County to take part in the Grossmont Invitational this past week-end. After the dust settled, the Raiders went 2-1 and came away with the Consolation title, Jack Benyshek was named to the All-Tournament team while the Raiders improved to 8-3.

On the first day of the tournament, the Raiders faced off against a #4 Yuba College. The first half went back and forth until the Niners put together a 16-4 run late in half enroute to a 48-33 halftime lead. The second half started with the Raiders slowly chipping away at the Yuba lead, tying the game 59-59 at the 11:11 mark. The rest of the half featured 8 lead changes and 4 ties. With :20 and the score tied 73-73, Yuba missed a shot but the Raiders couldn't come up with the defensive rebound and Yuba put the ball back in. Benyshek's 3pt attempt rattled off the rim, Yuba closed out the game, making 1 of 2 freethrows with :02 left, 76-73. Benyshek had a game high 28 points, Avi Halpert added 13 points, Kenji Cooper added 12 points, and Jamaal Unuakalu had 10 points and 9 rebounds.

On day two, the Raiders were playing Copper Mountain in their first ever meeting between the two schools. The Raider took the opening tip-off and never look back. Benyshek had a game high 23 points and Unuakalu had a double-double with 13 points and 18 rebounds. Rocco Pompeo led the charge off the bench with 11 points, Chase Aronowitz added 9 points and the Raider reserves got plenty of game speed experience.

In the Consolation title game, the Raiders played another ranked opponet in #13 Saddleback. In a tale of two halves, Saddleback used the opening 10 minutes to take a 10 point lead and the Raiders played catch up the rest of the half with the Bobcats taking 38-29 halftime lead. The second half started with the Raiders using a 19-8 run to tie the game at 47 with just under 12 mins left. From there it went went back and forth with 4 lead changes. With under 1:00 left, leading 70-68, Saddleback had a chance to put the game away but a missed 3 and a free-throw left it open for the Raider's Benyshek to send it to OT. OT went the same way as the second half with both teams exchanging baskets but in the last 40 seconds, the Raiders converted on steal to go up by 4 forcing the Bobcats to foul. The Raiders also fouled to take away the 3 but Sadlleback went 2 of 4 from the line and the Raiders Halpert sealing the game. Halpert had a game high 29 points and was 15/15 on free-throws. Unuakalu had another double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Benyshek added 15 points.

The Raiders next travel to Ridgecrest take on another ranked opponet in #8 Cerro Coso, Wednesday, 12/6 at 5p. The Coyotes defeated the Raiders earlier in the season, 99-82.