The men's basketball team fell to the Riverside City College Tigers 74-66 on Tuesday evening in their third home game of the 2017-18 season. The Vikings led early on, but the Tigers outshot Long Beach to take home the win.
In the first half, freshman guard Jeremiah Sadler tipped-off with the first shot of the game to start the Vikings' lead, and then followed up with the first three pointer of the game. The Vikings had their largest lead at the 15:09 mark with a jumper from freshman guard from Jordan High School, Jamiu Akinbile. The Tigers caught up to the Vikings with two minutes left in the first half at 36-36, then proceeded to take the 39-36 lead with 30 seconds left on the clock.
Sadler totaled 12 points in the first half, while William English was close behind him with 10 points. English and Akinbile both led the team with three rebounds each.
The Tigers opened the second half by extending the lead 41-36. Akinbile responded with back-to-back jump shots to try and close the gap with the Tigers. Sophomore guard Isaiah Keyes from Long Beach Poly High School, came into the game and shook it up with a three pointer, then was followed by a jumper from Sadler to take back the lead 52-51. The Tigers bounced back by scoring eight more points to restart their offensive momentum. The Vikings couldn't keep up and Riverside City College finished with a 74-66 victory.
In total, Sadler led the team with 19 points and Akinbile was a constant threat at the rim with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
The Vikings will play again on Thursday, Dec. 14 against Cuesta College at Saddleback College in the Bill Brummel Classic at 1 p.m.