SBVC Needs Overtime to Outlast Irvine Valley

Photo by Alexander Cabrera/SBVC
Photo by Alexander Cabrera/SBVC

For the first 10 minutes of Wednesday night's CCCAA Southern California Regional first round men's basketball game, it looked as if San Bernardino Valley was going to run away with a win over Irvine Valley en route to a second round matchup against Mt. San Antonio.

But the Lasers had other ideas.

Irvine Valley closed a 12-point early deficit to a one-point deficit after 20 minutes, and then opened a nine-point lead over the Wolverines with 5:07 remaining in the game. But San Bernardino Valley rallied back, and survived a last-second chance by Irvine Valley, to send the game to overtime, and in the extra five minutes, Jason Lee scored 10 of the Wolverines' 13 points to beat the Lasers 68-62.

San Bernardino Valley will take on Mt. San Antonio in a second round game at 5 p.m. Saturday at Mt. SAC.

Lee led the way for the Wolverines, scoring 28 points - including going 10-for-10 from the free throw line (6-for-6 in overtime) - along with nine assists. Sophomore Chine Nwanevu - who scored the other three points for SBVC in overtime - had a strong game as well. He forced a turnover early in the second half, then took a pass from Michael Miller to throw down a thunderous dunk for two of his 14 points to go with nine rebounds.

Irvine Valley's Roman Swizek caught fire in the second half, finishing the game with 28 points, going 6-for-12 from beyond the arc. Jesse Stines added 12 points for the Lasers.