Cypress Closes Regular Season with Competitive Battle Against Santa Ana
Chargers rally in second half behind Michael Wright’s 30-point effort but fall 84-79 to the Santa Ana Dons in Orange Empire Conference finale
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
44 | 40 | 84 |
|
|
34 | 45 | 79 |
Team Stats
Santa Ana
| Game Statistics | Santa Ana | Cypress |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (32-61) | (25-60) |
| Field Goal % | 52.5% | 41.7% |
| Rebounds | 26 | 28 |
| Assists | 10 | 8 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 4 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 4 | 15 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 10 | 15 |
| Pts in the Paint | 30 | 28 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 0 | 4 |
| Bench Pts | 32 | 35 |
CYPRESS, CA- Cypress College Men's Basketball (16-12, 7-7 OEC) came up just short in a crucial Orange Empire Conference showdown, falling 84-79 to the Santa Ana Dons (20-8, 6-8 OEC) on Friday evening at Don Johnson Court. Before tipoff, the Chargers honored their six sophomores: Mason Grant, Jacob Oros, Zack Moritz, Isaiah Valenzuela, Jack Rivera and Michael Wright in a pregame ceremony recognizing their contributions to the program.
Santa Ana went on a hot start and built a 44-34 lead at the break. Cypress struggled to match that efficiency early, which forced the Chargers to play from behind for most of the night.
Cypress responded after halftime with its best stretch of the game, outscoring Santa Ana 45-40 in the second half behind a more aggressive defensive presence and a steady parade to the free-throw line. Michael Wright anchored the comeback effort, attacking the paint, protecting the rim and playing all 40 minutes. The sophomore finished with 30 points on 9-for-14 shooting, added six rebounds and a game-high six blocks, and converted 10 of 13 attempts at the line while committing no turnovers. The Chargers' defensive intensity created key stops and helped chip away at the deficit, but Santa Ana continued to answer.
The Chargers received an additional offensive lift from guard Amaan Zavahir, who finished with 16 points in 32 minutes. Zavahir shot 4-for-8 from the field, 3-for-7 from long range and 5-for-6 at the stripe while collecting four rebounds. The Chargers also held a slight 28-26 edge on the glass and blocked six shots, but could not fully overcome the combination of Santa Ana's efficiency and the early double-digit hole. The matchup carried added weight as the final Orange Empire Conference game of the season and a direct battle for third place, heightening the atmosphere inside Don Johnson Court.
As the Chargers move beyond Sophomore Night and conclude the conference slate, their attention now shifts towards the upcoming postseason 3C2A SoCal Regionals.
UP NEXT: The Chargers eagerly await the release of the seeding brackets over the weekend, gearing up for the next stage of competition.
Stay connected with the Chargers through social media. Follow Cypress College Athletics on X (Formerly Twitter) @CypressChargers. Check in with the Chargers on Facebook/CypressChargers and on Instagram @CypressChargers.
