Community College Basketball : Cypress Seeks Fifth Win in Row

Cypress College will go for its fifth consecutive victory at 7:30 tonight when the Chargers play Mt. San Antonio in a South Coast Conference game at Walnut.

Cypress (4-2 in conference and 10-7 overall) opened SCC play by losing to Orange Coast and Fullerton but has since won four straight to move into third place, two games behind first-place Cerritos and one game behind the Mounties (5-1, 18-2). Mt. San Antonio must beat Cypress to remain alone in second place.

Cypress’ latest victory came Wednesday night against Compton, 65-52. Mt. San Antonio also won Wednesday, but it wasn’t easy.

The Mounties trailed Orange Coast by 13 points with 9:45 to play before rallying to win in overtime, 66-62. Against Orange Coast, Mt. San Antonio was without top scorer and rebounder, 6-foot 7-inch center Larry Richard, who has a leg injury. Richard may not play tonight either, according to Coach Gene Victor.

Mt. San Antonio had a 16-game win streak snapped by Cerritos, 55-51, Monday night.

In other South Conference games tonight, Orange Coast (4-3, 13-8) is at Cerritos (6-0, 15-3); Fullerton (4-2, 10-9) is at Compton (2-4, 7-10); and Saddleback (2-4, 12-8) is at Santa Ana (1-5, 9-10). The Dons, who have lost five straight, will be short-handed tonight against Saddleback. Guard Chuck Lewis, who had averaged 12.1 points per game, quit the team.