Red-hot second half fuels Moorpark's 96-66 triumph

Najeem Nawabi and Tim Andreolli both scored 15 of their game-high 21 points in the second half on Wednesday night as Moorpark shot the lights out in the final 20 minutes of a 96-66 men's basketball win over SBCC.

Nawabi was 5-6 from the 3-point line in the second half and 7-11 for the game. Andreolli knocked down 4-9 from long range and also had six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Moorpark (12-10, 4-2 WSC North) led 35-25 at halftime but only hit 4-19 from 3-point country. In the second half, the Raiders drained 60% (21-35) from the field (21-35), 57.9% from downtown (11-19) and outscored the Vaqueros 61-41.

The Raiders are tied for eighth in the state in 3-point percentage (38.1%) and have the fourth-most attempts (237-622).

The Vaqueros (1-19, 0-6) got within nine (40-31) early in the second half when Joseph Holden hit two technical foul shots. Nawabi proceeded to drain four straight 3's and Andreolli added two more for six triples in a row to start a 25-2 run that made it 65-33 with 13:40 to play.

Holden and Carlos Arevalo topped the Vaqueros with 16 points apiece. Holden hit 3-7 from 3-point land, 5-5 from the FT line and added six rebounds and four assists. Arevalo was 7-13 from the field and led SBCC with seven rebounds.

The Vaqueros committed 14 of their 25 turnovers in the second half. Moorpark had just 12 turnovers and enjoyed a 36-6 advantage in points off turnovers.

"Our focus was to push out and run their 3-pointers off and we did that in the first half," said SBCC coach Morris Hodges. "Fatigue became a factor. When they start hitting 3's, they started pressing and our depth is not really good. Plus, they hit six 3's in a row for 18 points and I think we missed two layups early in that stretch.

"You have to keep your poise vs. the press and a lot of times, we weren't organized. With all the adversity that's hit us, I told our guys early in the week how proud I am of them. We're not winning but I'm really proud that these guys are working hard every day and keeping a positive attitude."

The Vaqueros will start the second round of conference on Saturday when they host Ventura at 7 p.m.