Irvine Valley's men's basketball team played one of its best defensive games in program history Wednesday night and came away with an important Orange Empire Conference victory at Cypress.
The Lasers held Cypress to just 35 points in a 47-35 win.
The victory was Irvine Valley's second straight in conference and improved its record to 13-5 overall and 3-3 in conference. Cypress's record fell to 11-8 overall and 2-5 in the OEC.
The last time IVC allowed only 35 points in a game came in a 71-35 conference victory over Fullerton on Jan. 28, 2015.
On Wednesday night, both squads came out flat at the start, but Irvine Valley went on a run and jumped out to a 23-8 lead with six minutes left in the first half.
The Lasers led, 26-16, at the intermission.
Cypress hit a three-pointer to open the second half and reduced IVC's lead down to six points shortly after, but the Lasers held on for the important victory.
Irvine Valley held Cypress to just 25.6 percent (11 of 43) shooting from the field in the game.
IVC shot 37.2 percent (16 of 43) and the Lasers out-rebounded the Chargers, 35-29.
The big difference was points in the paint where IVC had a 24-8 edge.
Irvine Valley got solid games from its post players.
Sophomore forward Aashad Womack and freshman forward Colby Waite each finished with 14 points. Waite also had six rebounds.
And sophomore forward Austin Carter ended with 11 points, 11 rebounds and three steals in IVC's win.
Kamron Barnes had 12 points and six rebounds for the Chargers.
Irvine Valley plays again on Friday in another important OEC contest.
The Lasers host district-rival Saddleback at 6 p.m.
The Lasers are in fifth place in the conference standings – one game behind Saddleback for fourth.
