Copper Mountain Men Come Up Just Short in 74–73 Road Battle at #12 Mt. San Jacinto

The Copper Mountain College Men's Basketball team nearly completed a dramatic comeback on Wednesday night, falling 74–73 to #12-ranked Mt. San Jacinto College in a hard-fought IEAC matchup.

The Fighting Cacti struggled to find their footing early, as MSJC came out with high energy and quickly built an eight-point lead. Copper Mountain generated quality looks but couldn't capitalize, and the Eagles' pace and pressure kept the Cacti at bay. MSJC carried that momentum into halftime, taking a 41–29 advantage.

The second half, however, told a much different story. Copper Mountain returned to its defensive identity, dialing up its matchup zone to frustrate the Eagles and disrupt their rhythm. The defensive pressure paid off, as MSJC was forced into 17 turnovers on the night, allowing the Cacti to chip away at the deficit possession by possession.

Copper Mountain's persistence paid dividends late, as they clawed back to within two points, 72–70, with just 12 seconds remaining. A late foul call sent MSJC to the free-throw line, where the Eagles converted two shots to extend the lead. DJ Ralston then knocked down a three-pointer in the closing seconds to pull the Cacti within one, finalizing the score at 74–73.

Amarion Wallace led the way for Copper Mountain with a strong double-double, finishing with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Torey Woods added 11 points in the gritty effort.

The Fighting Cacti will have little time to dwell on the result, as they return home for a major conference showdown. Copper Mountain will host IEAC-leading and #10-ranked San Bernardino Valley College this Saturday, January 31, at the Bell Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.