No. 19 Men's Basketball Opens Conference Play at OCC

Cypress, CA – The Cypress College basketball program is making history today. For the first time since the 1987-88 season, both the men's and women's basketball team will be entering conference play with more than 10 wins.

The Cypress College Men's basketball team will open up conference play tonight on the road against Orange Coast College (6-8). The Chargers have been playing great basketball as of late and are entering the Orange Empire Conference with a 13-3 record, a huge improvement to their 7-8 non-conference record last season. The team has also matched their best 16-game start since the 1989-1990 season and are currently ranked 19th in state.

Coach Andrew Alhadeff has pushed the team to put in more work in on the defensive end and it has shown on the stat sheet as the Chargers rank 13th in the state in points allowed per game (62.1) and 5th in opposing field goal percentage (38.5%). The team also averages 7.8 steals per game and pushed their opponents to an average 16.3 turnovers per game.

Sophomore Jordan Fleck has improved a lot since last season and currently leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals. This season he has improved his previous line (9.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 1.1 SPG) significantly, and averages 14.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 2.3 SPG. He is also shooting 47.7% from three-point range. Sophomore Guard Nolan Kelly has also emerged to be a big game scorer as he currently averages 13.1 PPG. The Corona High alumnus has had some high-scoring games against strong opponents, including 30 points against Chaffey and 25 points against East LA.

Sophomore Guard Jeremy Wright does not boast an eye-popping stat line, but the 2015 All-OEC first teamer has been one of the most important players on the team due to his ability to facilitate the offense and protect the ball. Wright currently averages 8.7 PPG and 2.9 APG.

Several bench players have proven their worth late in games with their energy, including Brian Robbs and O'Shae Williams. Robbs has proven to be a solid backup off the bench due to his hustle and propensity to make key defensive plays at important moments of the game. Williams has stood out amongst the freshmen class, showcasing his athleticism while averaging 8.7 PPG and 3.1 APG. Tyler Williams, Israel Barrera, and Zachary Perez have also played key roles in helping the Chargers off the bench.

Orange Coast College did not have a great start to the season, but feature several key talents that can't be overlooked. Forward Jamaal Lee has been phenomenal for the Pirates this season, averaging 17.4 PPG, 13.1 RPG, and 4.7 APG. He will be aided by several talented shooters including Aidan Ptasznik, Ryan Fusco, and Kyle Lawson.

The Chargers will need to figure out how to contain Lee and dictate the game with their own tempo in order to win. Tonight's game at Orange Coast College will start at 5 PM. 

Stay connected with the Chargers through social media. Follow Cypress College Athletics on Twitter @CypressChargers. Check in with the Chargers on Facebook/CypressChargers and on Instagram @CypressChargers.