2-23-08 Cougars Close Regular Season With A "W"
Glendale box score
GLENDALE, Calif. – The College of the Canyons spoiled the Glendale College Vaqueros idea of winning the final game of the regular season on its home court on Saturday night, as the Cougars won, 82-75. The fourth consecutive win for the Cougars marks the longest win streak of the season, which was previously set in December when COC won two games in a row at the Vaquero Classic. Justin Smith shot 8-of-15 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw line for a team high 21 points and 10 rebounds. Jason Holzwarth added 14, Donjay Kakonde recorded 13 points and Brian Kimble had 12 points and nine assists.
2-20-08 COC Makes It Three In A Row With Win Against Santa Monica
Santa Monica box score
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The College of the Canyons men’s basketball team proved that it was hard to beat a team three times when the Cougars narrowly slipped by the Santa Monica Corsairs, 76-73, on Wednesday evening at the Cougar Cage. Before Wednesday’s match-up, the Corsairs had recorded two wins this season against the Cougars – one in the last game of the Mulligan Classic and second during a WSC game at the end of January. COC opened the game on a 15-0 run, including eight quick points from Justin Smith in the first eight minutes of play on Wednesday night. Santa Monica would struggle to even the score before the end of the first half, but they did end the COC scoring frenzy, as Canyons took a four-point lead into the intermission, 32-28. To open the second half, Smith took the lead again scoring back-to-back points and helping College of the Canyons build a 15-point lead, 46-31 with 18:18 left in the second half. The Corsairs held on with strong defense and tied the game at 68-all with 3:24 left in regulation. Kevin Bruce made six consecutive free throws in the final 1:30 to help the Cougars bring home their third consecutive win. Four players scored 13+ points in the game, including 17 from Smith and 15 from Bruce, who was 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Donjay Kakonde had six rebounds and five blocks in the win.
2-16-08 COC Stuns Valley, Wins Second Consecutive Game
Valley box score
VAN NUYS, Calif. - The Cougars strung together their second consecutive win on Saturday night as Justin Smith and Brian Kimble combined for 45 points against Valley College for a 81-79 win. Smith was 9-of-14 from the field and 7-7 from the free throw line to lead the Cougars with 25 points and nine rebounds. Kimble, who has struggled offensively in the month of February, was 6-12 from the field for 20 points and nine rebounds. Jason Holzwarth also helped out with 19 points. The Cougars return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 20 to host Santa Monica, for the final regular home season game of the year. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
2-13-08 Cougars Notch First Conference Win Over Visiting West L.A.
West L.A. box score
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - The College of the Canyons men's basketball team saw five players score in double figures on Wednesday night, as Canyons was able to post its first conference win of the season, 67-61, against West L.A. The win breaks a nine-game losing streak, stretching back to Dec. 14. Freshman Jason Holzwarth led the team with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Justin Smith and Brian Kimble both added 11, while Joel Spriggs contributed 13. Forward Donjay Kakonde was one rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
2-6-08 Smith Scores Season High 22 Points In Loss
Bakersfield box score
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Justin Smith scored a season high 22 points, but it was not enough to lift the Cougars past Bakersfield College on Wednesday night, as they dropped their ninth consecutive game, 98-81. Smith was 9-of-13 from the field and perfect from the 3-point line (1-1) and the free throw line (3-3), but 24 turnovers from COC gave the game away for the struggling team. Smith also led the team on the boards, with nine rebounds. Donjay Kakonde and Travis Hayden also recorded 12 each.
2-2-08 Cougars Out Shoot No. 3 Citrus, Turnovers Plague Team
Citrus box score
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - College of the Canyons men’s basketball team out shot the visiting Citrus Owls, but committed 31 turnovers on Saturday night to lose its eighth consecutive game, 80-63. COC shot 46.7 percent (21-of-45) from the field, while Citrus shot 40.9 percent (27-of-66), as the No. 3 Owls struggled to get into an offensive rhythm. The Cougars scored their first points of the game on two free throws from Travis Hayden at 16:37, which was followed by COC’s first field goal attempt and make on a 3-pointer from Hayden, with 16:05 left in the first half. As the Owls could not drop shots, COC turned the ball over 17 times in the first half, but only trailed by eight points, 39-31, at the break. Following the intermission, Citrus built up an 18-point lead, 58-40, with 12:27 left in the game. A 15-7 COC run brought the Cougars within nine, 64-55, at the 5:19 mark, but Citrus would pull away one more time to end the hopes of a COC win. Starter Justin Smith had a team-high 13 points, shooting 6-of-8 from the field, in 29 minutes of play. Smith’s 13 points was his third consecutive game in double digits. Forward Donjay Kakonde added 11 points, three rebounds and two blocks. COC hits the road on Wednesday as they travel to Bakersfield for a 7:30 p.m. game.
1-30-08 College Of The Canyons Concludes First Half Of WSC Play With A Loss
Glendale box score
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - The College of the Canyons men's basketball team remained winless in conference play on Wednesday night as the lost to Glendale, 76-60, marking the end of the first half of conference play for the the Cougars. Sophomore guard Gerardo Zuniga fell two points shy of his season high with a team high 12 points after shooting 4-of-13 (31 percent) from the field. Jason Holzwarth turned in 11 points on the evening and Justin Smith recorded 10 for his second consecutive game in double figures. Leading scorer Brian Kimble was held to seven points in the contest, but led the team with seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. The Cougars open the second half of conference play on Saturday, Feb. 2 as they host No. 3 Citrus at 7:30 p.m.
1-19-08 Smith Scores 15, But Not Enough For Win As Cougars Drop Game To West L.A.
West L.A. box score
CULVER CITY, Calif. – The Cougars committed 26 turnovers and shot 40 percent (17-of-43) from the field in a 65-51 loss to West L.A. on Saturday night. COC’s leading scorer Brian Kimble was held to only six points, while Jason Holzwarth and Justin Smith combined for 29 points to lead COC. Smith had a team-high 15 points and six rebounds, while Holzwarth had 14 points. Donjay Kakonde pulled down nine rebounds in the loss. The Cougars look to rebound on Wednesday night as they host Valley College at 7:30 p.m.
1-12-08 COC Comes Within Three In Final Minutes, But Run Out Of Gas In Loss
Bakersfield box score
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Reserve Justin Smith scored 15 points in the final half of the College of the Canyons conference home opener on Saturday night, but it was not enough to get the Cougars past Bakersfield College, 93-87. The Coguars came within three points with 1:22 left in the game, but two made free throws and a last minute layup by Bakersfield held COC at bay. In the first half, the Renegades built up a 21 point lead, but COC, who had a slow start came within six points. Only down by 10 points after the intermission, 49-39, Bakersfield opened with a 13-6 run. Halfway through the half, COC went on their own run, 10-0 run, and came within three points with 1:22 left in the game. But, a late layup and free thows killed the Cougars idea of a win. Leading scorer Brian Kimble had a game high 24 points, 14 in the second half, and Travis Hayden and Gerardo Zuniga contritbued 13 and 12 points respectively. COC takes the week off and returns to action next Saturday as they travel to West L.A. College for a 5:30 p.m. game.
1-10-08 Reserve Justin Smith Scores Double-Double In First Conference Loss
Citrus box score
GLENDORA, Calif. - Freshman reserve Justin Smith scored 14 points on a 7-for-10 shooting night, and pulled down 11 rebounds, to top the College of the Canyons players in its first conference loss of the season on Wednesday night, as the team was defeated, 79-72, by No. 6 Citrus College. Citrus opened the game with a 9-0 run, but COC would neutralize the score at 8:27 as the bench scored 14 points and tied the game at 17. The Cougars built a four-point lead, but it wouldn’t last for long as the Owls scored three consecutive baskets, including a 3-pointer, with 1:00 left in the half, to go up by one point at the break, 32-31. The Owls kept the momentum out of the halftime break with a 15-9 scoring frenzy that was capitalized on by the Cougars six turnovers in the first five minutes off the break. The Owls built a nine-point lead, but again, COC came back to tie the game at 57 and 59 with 7:09 left. COC took the lead, 62-59, with two free throws each from Jason Holzwarth and Donjay Kakonde, but Citrus would make one last effort with five minutes left that closed the door on COC’s hopes of a win. The Cougars have not lost to Citrus on the road since Feb. 4, 2006, when the team lost 88-69, in the second of two match-ups between the teams. Canyons racked up the fouls, placing the Owls at the free throw line 45 times. Citrus was able to score 30 points off the free throw line alone after shooting only 34.8 percent in the game. COC shot 43.9 percent on the night. Kakonde added 15 points in the game and seven rebounds, Holzwarth recorded 13 and Joel Spriggs scored 10. The Cougars leading scorer, Brian Kimble, was held to nine points, but dished out seven assists and had three steals. COC returns to action on Saturday to host its first conference game against Bakersfield. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
12-15-07 Cougars Fall In Championship Game At Vaquero Classic
Cerritos box score
Antelope Valley box score
El Camino box score
GLENDALE, Calif. - The Cougars revenged two losses from earlier in the season against Cerritos and Antelope Valley College at the Vaquero Classic this past weekend, but ended up falling in the championship game to El Camino College, 73-58. Canyons gained the first-round win over Cerritos College, who had defeated the team, 70-63, at the end of November, 67-52. Justin Smith and Brian Kimble both turned in performances of 18 points each and Smith recorded eight rebounds in the victory. In the second round, COC defeated the then second-ranked Mauraders of Antelope Valley in overtime, 85-83. COC had also lost to them just two weeks earlier, 72-56, at the AVC Tournament. Justin Holzwarth poured in 23 points and went 5-of-8 from the 3-point line, while Kimble added another 20 points and four rebounds. In the final game of the Vaquero Classic, Canyons dropped the championship game to El Camino, 73-58. Kimble once again scored double digits with 17 points, five rebounds and six assists.
12-11-07 Oxnard Makes Free Throws In Final Minutes To Hand Cougars Second Consecutive Loss
Oxnard box score
OXNARD, Calif. – Oxnard College made 5-of-6 free throws in the final minutes of play on Tuesday night, helping the Condors defeat Canyons 63-57 for the Cougars second consecutive loss in the past three days. Oxnard College led by as many as six points in the first half of the contest, taking a 28-22 lead over the Cougars with 3:11 left before the break. COC went on an 8-0 run in the final minutes of the half, behind two free throws from Gerardo Zuniga and two 3-pointers by freshman guard Jason Holzwarth. With Holzwarth’s 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the half, COC turned a six-point deficit into a four-point lead, 30-26, into the break. To open the second half of play, Canyons lost its lead as the score swung 14 points in favor of the Condors and they took a 50-42 advantage with 8:37 left in the game. The Cougars came as close as four points in the closing seconds as a results of a Brian Kimble lay up, but Oxnard made 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute to score a win for the Condors. COC was led by Brian Kimble, who scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, while adding five rebounds. Holzwarth and Justin Smith finished the night in double digits with 12 and 11 points respectively. Donjay Kakonde also pulled down 5 rebounds in the loss.
12-8-07 COC Defeated By No. 20 Ventura
Ventura box score
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - The College of the Canyons men’s basketball team suffered its largest defeat of the season as the team dropped a game to Ventura College, 85-52, in the last home non-conference game of the season on Saturday night. COC fell behind early, as the team trailed 12-3 in the opening five minutes of the game. Canyons never got a grip on the Pirates tempo for the Cougars second defeat on their home floor. COC was led by guard Brian Kimble with 15 points and four assists.
12-6-07 COC Breaks Three-Game Losing Streak
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - The College of the Canyons men's basketball team ended a three-game losing streak with a win over Barstow College, 78-63, on Thursday evening. The Vikings stayed close in the first half, even though they only brought seven players to the game, and trailed COC 33-29 at the break. The Cougars were not able to break away until the 7:18 mark of the second half, as Barstow came within two, 56-54. College of the Canyons went on a 15-3 run to open a 73-57 lead. Hart High School alum Brian Kimble led the team with 23 points and Justin Smith and Gerardo Zuniga contributed 13 points each. The Cougars return to action on Saturday as they take on Ventura College at 7:30 p.m.
12-1-07 Canyons Drops Third Game In A Row
Antelope Valley box score
LANCASTER, Calif. - COC lost its third consecutive game to Antelope Valley, 72-56, leaving the Rancho Vista Classic a day early. The Cougars shot 35 percent from the floor (19-59) while the Marauders finished the night shooting 48 percent (23-48). As a team, Canyons only made one 3-pointer out of the 12 they took during the game. Donjay Kakonde led with 11 points and five rebounds, while Brian Kimble garnered 10 points.
11-30-07 COC Loses At The Buzzer
Mira Costa box score
LANCASTER, Calif. - COC had a last-minute loss in the first game to Mira Costa, 64-61. The Cougars came back after trailing the Spartans, 31-28, going in to the halftime break. The Cougars came charging back and tied the game at 61-all. Freshman Jason Holzwarth hit a three with 2.8 seconds left, but the shot was ruled out of bounds and gave the ball back to the Spartans. Mira Costa’s Mike Brown took control of the game and hit a long 3-pointer from 50 feet away at the buzzer to seal the win for the Spartans. Canyons saw three players score in double figures -- Donjay Kakonde (13), Brian Kimble (12) and Marc Rosenberg (12). Kakonde also led with seven rebounds, while Kimble added five assists and three steals.
11-28-07 COC Comes Up Short Against Cerritos
Cerritos box score
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - College of the Canyons struggled at the free throw line and watched visiting Cerritos go 4-for-4 at the same line to lose, 70-63, in a non-conference match-up Wednesday night. The Cougars struggled on offense after tallying four turnovers in the first four minutes of play, holding the team scoreless until the 15:58 mark off a 3-pointer from Jason Holzwarth. Canyons fell behind by as much as 13, but recovered to take the lead with 1:19 left in the half, 29-28, from a Behrang Bejoiu lay up. The lead was short lived though, as COC went into the break down by one, 30-29. To open the second half, the Falcons widened the lead on an 8-2 run to start the half as the Cougars fell behind 39-33. COC had trouble recovering, but incurred a few turnovers late in the game to come as close as five points, but Cerritos made key free throws down the stretch to garner the win. The Cougars break their perfect record at home and drop to 2-1 at the Cougar Cage and 3-5 overall. Cerritos improves to 3-3. COC returns to action this Friday as they head to the Rancho Vista Classic at Antelope Valley College and take on Mira Costa at 5 p.m. for the first-round game.
11-20-07 Cougars Fall To Second-Ranked Fullerton
Fullerton box score
FULLERTON, Calif. - The Cougars lost last night to the second-ranked team in the state, Fullerton College, in a 88-57 defeat. Fullerton went on a 15-0 run to break an 8-all tie early in the first half to get a hold on COC and take a 50-23 lead into the halftime break. The Cougars responded in the second half with 34 points to Fullerton’s 38, but it was not enough to overcome the home team. As a team, the Cougars shot 44 percent (22-50) from the field, but turned the ball over 32 times. Starting guard Gerardo Zuniga tallied 13 points, two assists, a block and three steals. Sophomore center Donjay Kakonde recorded nine rebounds and 12 points in the loss.
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