Ten Lead Changes Leaves Cypress on Top
Staats was 12 for 12 from the line Wednesday night. |
February 11, 2009
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Costa Mesa, Calif. – Cypress traveled to Orange Coast Wednesday to take on the Pirates for the second time this season. The Chargers won the first matchup and completed the sweep Wednesday after ten lead changes to win 84-77. Sophomore forward John Staats led Cypress with 26 points and ten rebounds on four three-pointers and a perfect twelve-for-twelve from the free-throw line.
The first half proved to be a flurry of runs with six lead changes. The half ended almost the way it started with Cypress holding just a one point lead 38-37. Cypress took control in the start of the second half getting out to as much as a nine point lead. OCC climbed back and tied it up at 66 with 3:50 left on the clock. The Pirates then took their first lead of the half before Cypress took it back and then OCC took the two point lead with 1:21 left. Sophomore guard DuWayne King evened the score at 76 with a jumper. Staats then converted two free throws to take the lead for good. OCC was forced to foul and Staats and freshman guard Nick Becker were both perfect from the stripe the rest of the way on the way to a seven point win.
Sophomore guard Tim Austin paced Cypress with 16 points. Freshman guard Troy Baugh and freshman forward Brandon McDonald scored nine points each.
Cypress improves to 14-15 and 4-5 in conference holding fourth place. The Chargers have a night off before taking on Saddleback again. Cypress lost to the Gauchos by twenty the first time around. Saddleback is in third place in conference. The two meet again at Cypress Friday at 5:30 pm.
