Owls Defeat Allan Hancock 87–72, Advance to Face Mt. SAC

No. 2-seeded Citrus College Men's Basketball extended its win streak to 23 games with an 87–72 victory over No. 15-seeded Allan Hancock College on Saturday, February 28 in their Round 2 matchup of the 3C2A Southern California Regionals. The win improved Citrus to 28-1 overall, while Allan Hancock closes their season at 21-9.

Citrus jumped out early with efficient shooting and active defense. The Owls shot 53.6% in the first half, scoring 39 points while generating multiple transition opportunities through steals and blocks. Leo Ricketts and Dev Hamilton each scored 11 points before halftime, while Amiri Meadows added eight points and was constantly testing the Bulldogs' guards with stong defense. Citrus limited Allan Hancock's effectiveness in the paint and created separation despite a brief stretch where Hancock held a seven-point lead early. By halftime, Citrus had established a 39–28 lead through high-percentage scoring, despite not shooting well from three (only 1-of-8) strong interior play, and disruptive defensive pressure.

Citrus extended its lead to a game-high 15 midway through the second half and never allowed the Bulldogs to mount a serious comeback. The Owls shot 48.5% in the half, hitting five three-pointers and dominating inside with a 48–34 points-in-the-paint advantage for the game. The Owls converted Bulldogs' turnovers into 27 points, and maintained balanced contributions from the bench, which outscored Allan Hancock's reserves narrowly 16–14. Nine offensive rebounds in the second half gave Citrus key second-chance opportunities, and defensive intensity produced 12 second half Bulldogs turnovers helping maintain control through the final minutes.

Leo Ricketts led all scorers in his Citrus College postseason debut with 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including 6-of-12 from three, while adding four rebounds, four steals, and an assist. Dev Hamilton was perfect from the field, scoring 18 points on 8-of-8 shooting with three rebounds, a steal, and an assist. Amiri Meadows tallied 17 points, six assists, four rebounds, two steals, and a block while making 9-of-15 free throws. JJ Sanchez added six points, seven assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a block. Alek Sanchez contributed six points, two assists, and three steals, while Dylan Victorio added four points, a game-high five steals, and three rebounds. Grayson Boustead scored four points with four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Ian Salmon had a season-best eight rebounds (six on the offensive glass) and two points, while Rockwell Reynolds had two rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.

Citrus now advances to Round 3 of the 3C2A Men's Basketball Southern California Regionals, where they will host No. 7-seeded Mt. San Antonio College next Saturday, March 7, with tipoff set for 5 p.m.