Men's losing streak reaches four

After opening the game with a three-pointer, the men's basketball team fell victim to a 16-0 run early and never recovered in a 65-58 loss at Orange Coast College, last Wednesday.

On numerous occasions throughout the contest, the Hornets pulled themselves within two or three points of OCC's lead only to watch the Pirates pull away.

“We don't have any leadership besides myself and I can't go out and play,” said Andre Smith, Fullerton head coach. “Until they figure out that someone has to step up and be a leader, this is my season.”

Newton scored a game-high 21 points for Fullerton, 15 of which came in the first half as he led the charge for a Hornet comeback.

Freshman forward Jason Reinhardt, who was a force inside, added 10 points and five blocked shots, but got into foul trouble in the second half and had to spend time on the bench.

After Newton's three-pointer started things off for the Hornets, OCC took control with a 16-0 run, leaving the Hornets without a basket for about six minutes.

Pirates' guard Chris Curtis led the charge with nine points in the first half.

After falling behind 16-3, Smith called a timeout with the hopes of slowing down OCC's momentum. The tactic worked as Fullerton slowly nipped away at the lead and tied the game with just seconds remaining in the first half.

“I told them that we just have to compete,” Smith said. “We don't want to compete, we're afraid of success. It's hard for guys to come out and play hard and I don't understand why that is.”

Newton hit four three-pointers in the first half and both Reinhardt and sophomore guard Taylor Walker completed three-point plays to bring the Hornets back.

“[Newton] is the only guy that plays hard and plays consistently,” Smith said, “but he can't do it by himself. It's a team sport, unfortunately.”

But a defensive lapse would prove fatal as Pirate guard Chad Delaney found wide open space and nailed a three-pointer as time expired in the first half, giving OCC a 36-33 lead.

In the second half, Fullerton was stuck playing catch-up even though the Pirates shot a low 29 percent from the field and were out-rebounded by Fullerton 48-39.

OCC forward Jake Fedro, along with Curtis, led the team with 18 points and eight rebounds. Fedro scored 12 points in the second half.

Fullerton trimmed its deficit to two, 46-44, midway through the second half, but OCC responded with a 10-1 run, which put the game out of reach.

The Hornets will head to Saddleback College, Friday, with the hopes of ending their current four-game losing streak.

“I just need to cut their chests open so I can find a heart,” Smith said.