Bench Buckets Combined 45 Points in Comeback Victory over Saddleback

The Santiago Canyon College men's basketball team were staring down the barrel of a single-digit deficit for the first 26 minutes of tonight's conference game against the Saddleback College Bobcats on home hardwood. They grabbed their first lead of the game after freshman Matt Mendias converted an and-one play at the 14-minute mark, but it took much more for the Hawks throughout the remaining 13 minutes of action.

The advantage continued to swing back and forth throughout the final half of play between the Hawks and the Bobcats, but it was Saddleback that maintained a slight edge of no more than five points. Mendias continued to trim the deficit by hitting a three-pointer, followed by a baseline drive from sophomore Chico Lopez, who flushed a dunk on the ensuing possession, tying the game for the fifth time in a four-minute span.

Two possessions later, Lopez buried a three-pointer from the wing, assisted by freshman Dominic Bolton, to give Santiago Canyon a 67-65 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Both teams continued to trade blows over the next four minutes, but the Bobcats pushed ahead 75-71 until sophomore Cayden Hong buried a three-pointer to pull the Hawks within one. Saddleback answered with consecutive triples to extend its advantage to 81-76 with five minutes left.

As the game entered the three-minute mark, Lopez kissed in a layup off the glass to bring the Hawks within one. Santiago Canyon then forced three consecutive defensive stops, setting up two free throws for Lopez with the Hawks trailing 83-82.

Lopez stepped to the charity stripe and knocked down both to give Santiago Canyon a one-point lead with under a minute remaining. Saddleback drove downcourt and attempted to reclaim the lead on a jumper, but Mendias rose up and swatted the shot away, handing the Hawks possession. He then went to the line and split a pair of free throws, giving Saddleback one last chance to tie.

The Bobcats drew a foul on the ensuing possession with four seconds remaining and the Hawks up 85-83, but missed one of two free throws, eventually sealing an 87-83 Santiago Canyon victory.

As a team, the Hawks shot an impressive 51.1 percent from the floor, with 45 points coming from the bench. Mendias scored a team-high 20 points to go along with four rebounds, two steals, and a game-saving block. He reached the free-throw line 15 times, converting 11. Lopez added 19 points and seven rebounds.

Sophomore Ryan Weber was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field, including a career-high four three-pointers, finishing with 16 points.