(Walnut, CA) The Mt. SAC Men's Basketball Team concluded the Annual Mountie Classic with an 82-66 win over Imperial Valley College Sunday (Dec. 8) to finish with a 2-1 record.

The Mounties (4-7) opened the weekend with a win over College of the Desert (Dec. 6) and a narrow loss to Cerro Coso Saturday (Dec. 7).

Four of the five starters averaged double digit scoring figures for the Mounties.

Leading the way for the Mounties in the three games was Kalique Mitchell with a 21-point average. Gerald Jordan averaged 18.6, Collin Reed, 17.3 and Maliq Neurell, 11.3.

"The team is coming together now," Mitchell said. "It's been a long journey and I feel good about the team winning."  

Against Imperial Valley, Mitchell (11 for 17 FGM, 4-6 FTM) poured in a season-high 26 points and came down with 12 rebounds.

Reed (6-8 FTM, 5 RB) and Jordan (2-4 FTM, 13 RB) added 14 and 13, respectively. Neurell (7-8 FTM, 5 RB) had nine points. 

"To win the game, I have got to start on defense and I'm the head of the snakes, so I figured I had to bring the energy to get our guys going," said Neurell, who had a season-high seven steals. Five of those thefts came in the first half. "We're growing as a team and as a unit and coming together every game. It's early in the season, it should be exciting.

"Coach (Clark) Maloney had us running and there is no shortage in our energy level. Having a short bench, we have the heart and the fight."

Neurell was referring to the seven players that the Mounties had during the three-day Mountie Classic.

The Mounties jumped out to a 14-4 lead, led by Neurell with four steals. After a 12-4 run later in the opening half, Mt. SAC led, 32-20 and kept that same 12-point lead heading into the second half, 42-30.

Midway through the second half, the Mounties had their largest lead of the game with a 20-point advantage, 63-43.

With a driving layup in the last two minutes and a free throw, Mitchell finished with team leading single game high of 26 points.

"Over the weekend, I was very happy with the steps we made in the first two days and showed a lot of grit and toughness," Mt. SAC Coach Chris Oliver said. "Defensively, we got better on Saturday from Friday.

"Maliq (Neurell) had a great game with the seven steals and did a great job." 

The Mounties will host Irvine Valley College on Wednesday (Dec. 11) at 7:00 pm.

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.