Bobcats head into OEC play hot

The Saddleback men's basketball team picked up two wins last week at the Riverside City College Tournament to improve to 7-4 on the season.  The Bobcats have now won 4-of-5 heading into Orange Empire Conference play.

Saddleback dropped a tough opener in the RCC Tournament, but then picked up consecutive wins against Copper Mountain College on Thursday and Mt. San Jacinto College on Saturday.  The Bobcats received 23 points from Nick Bowden in the final game, turning back a solid Mt. San Jacinto College team (79-69).  It was the fourth win in the past five games as the Bobcats prepare for the OEC opener on Wednesday at Cypress.

The Orange Empire Conference had two teams ranked in the top-10 in the state earlier in the month in the latest CCCMBCA Poll as Fullerton was ranked No. 1 and Santiago Canyon No. 6.  Right behind them in the standings is a slew of teams that could challenge for an OEC title, including Saddleback and Cypress.  Of the four losses for the Bobcats on the season, three of them have come against teams ranked in the top-25. 

Saddleback is led in scoring by Atiba Taylor and Nick Bowden, who average 13.2 and 12.5 points-per-game, respectively.  Derek Rubidoux leads the team with 4.4 rebounds-per-game while Bowden leads with 2.5 assists-per-game.

Saddleback (7-4) and Cypress (8-4) are scheduled to start at 5:00 PM in the Cypress College Gymnasium.  For those looking to attend, masks are required indoors on the Cypress campus.