FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — In a tightly contested men’s junior college basketball game defined by runs and resilience, the Fullerton Hornets outlasted the San Diego City Knights 66-59 on Friday night.

The game, a nonconference matchup organized by the California Community College Athletic Association, saw the host Hornets improve their season record to 9-1, while the Knights fell to 7-3.

The most critical phase of the contest came late in the second quarter. After trading blows throughout a fast-paced first quarter that ended with Fullerton holding a slim 33-34 lead, the Knights mounted a significant challenge. A 13-2 run by San Diego City, capped by a Matin Madadkar 3-pointer with 10:46 remaining in the second quarter, gave the Knights their largest lead at 49-41.

Fullerton, however, responded with a decisive 14-0 run of its own to reclaim control. The surge was anchored by Brayden Smith, the Hornets’ top star, who scored 8 points during the pivotal stretch, including a layup that put Fullerton ahead 55-49 with 4:36 left. The Knights went scoreless for over six minutes, a drought from which they could not fully recover despite a late push.

Smith led all scorers with 28 points on efficient shooting, adding 7 rebounds. His ability to attack the basket and draw fouls was crucial, as he went 6-for-8 from the free throw line, all in the second quarter. Dylan Griffin paced San Diego City with 21 points.

Statistically, the game was a study in contrasting efficiencies. Both teams had identical 67 possessions, but Fullerton’s offensive rating of 98.5 outpaced San Diego City’s 88.2. The Hornets compensated for poor 3-point shooting, making just 5 of 26 attempts, by dominating inside. They outrebounded the Knights 34-29, with a key 9-4 advantage on the offensive glass, and scored 42 points in the paint.

San Diego City struggled with ball security, committing 16 turnovers to Fullerton’s 11, which led to 15 points for the Hornets. The Knights also shot just 15 for 23 from the free throw line, missing opportunities to close the gap in the final minutes.

Other key contributors for Fullerton included Jaqari Miles with 15 points and Yoda Oke, who provided 7 points and 7 rebounds. For San Diego City, Micah Brickner added 6 points and 4 rebounds, while Luke Hecht facilitated with 4 assists.

The victory solidified Fullerton’s strong early-season form, while San Diego City will look to rebound quickly as the teams are scheduled for a rematch in San Diego on Dec. 30.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Fullerton entered the game with an 88.60 percent probability to win.