The Irvine Valley men's basketball team raced out to an early lead against Orange Coast in an Orange Empire Conference game at home and won easy, 97-58, Thursday night at home on a short week.
finishes with a 97-58 victory Thursday night at home on a short week.
IVC improved its record to 15-11 overall and stayed in the mix for a 3C2A SoCal playoff berth.
The top 24 teams in Southern California make the regional playoffs. IVC currently sits in the top 16 in So. Cal. in the power index.
Irvine Valley plays at two ranked teams to finish the year next week.
The Lasers are at Santa Ana next Wednesday at 5 p.m. and then at No. 2 in the state Fullerton on Friday at 6 p.m.
The Lasers received an all-around, eveyone contributes win on Thursday.
Irvine Valley shot 66.1 percent from the field as a team (37 of 56) and knocked down 11 three-pointers.
Sophomore guard/wing player Sam Meza-Tallada was the star, finishing with his best game as a Lasers.
Meza-Tallada ended with 21 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals on the night.
He was one of five players to score in double figures for IVC.
Sophomore post player Matt Mowers and freshman guard Ahmad Alhammouri each contributed 13 points. Mowers also finished with four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
IVC sophomore wing Yanis Aldeguer chipped in 12 points and three rebounds and sophomore Nate Tuttle gave the team 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Irvine Valley also did a great on the defensive end, limiting the Pirates to just 37.3 percent shooting from the field as a team.
