The Fullerton men's basketball team got close on multiple occasions in its game at Orange Coast College, but couldn't sink the Pirates, falling 65-58.
After guard Steve Newton nailed a three-pointer for the Hornets to start the game, OCC took complete control by way of a 16-0 run, which caught Fullerton completely off guard.
From that point on, the Hornets nipped away at OCC's lead and led by Newton and sophomore guard Taylor Walker, tied the game at 33 with just seconds left. However, the Pirates' Chad Delaney found an opening and hit a three-pointer before the buzzer, giving OCC a 36-33 lead at the break.
In the second half, it was more of the same as Fullerton would pull itself within two or three points, only to watch the Pirates pull away.
Fullerton head coach Andre Smith said his team still lacks leadership and heart and he's hoping it'll pick up at Saddleback on Friday.
The women's team enjoyed a better result at OCC on Wednesday, holding off a late Pirate charge to take a 68-60 win and keep their record against the Orange Empire Conference perfect. The Lady Hornets are 22-1 overall this season.
Fullerton started to take control late in the first half, turning a back-and-forth game into a 34-29 halftime lead. Guard Taiyande Huskey led the team in the second half and scored 11 points overall, seven of which came from the free throw line.
Late in the second half, the Lady Hornets found another burst of energy and went on a 7-0 run that saw their lead increase from three to 10 points, which would prove to be too much for OCC to overcome.
Fullerton head coach Debi Woelke credits team depth as the primary reason for the team's success, saying she could put in five completely new players at anytime and the team wouldn't miss a step.
The Lady Hornets will take their impressive record on the road to Saddleback, Friday.
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