Gauchos clamp down on IVC in President’s Cup

The Saddleback men's basketball team received 18 points from Josh Smith on way to a 54-49 win over Irvine Valley College in the opener of the Orange Empire Conference schedule on Friday night at IVC.  The two schools play for the President's Cup every year, which combined with the women's games has a trophy that is passed around between the two programs.

Smith (pictured) finished 7-for-9 from the field and was 4-of-4 from the free throw line in leading the Gaucho attack.  He also finished with six rebounds and two blocked-shots as Saddleback played gritty on defense, holding the Lasers to 29% shooting for the game.

Saddleback opened up a 31-17 lead at the half on the strength of a 21-13 advantage in rebounding.  Smith had 14 first-half points as the Gauchos scored the first six points of the game and never relinquished the lead.  Saddleback led by as many as 19 points midway through the second half before Irvine Valley started to chip away at the lead.  The Lasers would eventually cut the lead to two with 39 seconds remaining in the game, but two late baskets by A.J. Brevard would ice the game in the closing seconds.

Saddleback entered the contest ranked No. 4 in the state and No. 2 in Southern California.  The Gauchos improved to 14-4 on the season and now stand at 1-0 in OEC play.  Irvine Valley dropped to 8-7 overall and 0-1 in Orange Empire Conference play with the loss.

Saddleback will play again on Wednesday night at home against Orange Coast College.  Tip time is set for 7:30 PM.