Preview: Canyons Cougars at Antelope Valley Marauders

LANCASTER, Calif. (Interstat) — Two California community college men’s basketball teams on different trajectories will meet Wednesday when the Canyons Cougars visit the Antelope Valley Marauders.

The Cougars (9-5) enter the contest riding momentum from a 78-64 home victory over Los Angeles Pierce on Saturday. The Marauders (5-7) look to rebound after a 69-76 loss at East Los Angeles on Dec. 30, their most recent outing.

Canyons has won four of its last five games, with the lone loss in that stretch coming against Mount San Antonio. A key factor has been the consistent play of forward Dwayne Boston Jr., who is coming off a dominant double-double performance. Against Pierce, Boston played 33 minutes, scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Over his last five games, he is averaging 12.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest.

Supporting Boston in the win over Pierce were Craig Irons, who scored a team-high 17 points off the bench, and Julius Washington, who contributed 6 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

Antelope Valley’s season has been marked by inconsistency, alternating wins and losses recently. The Marauders have shown offensive firepower, scoring 99 points in a double-overtime win at Cerro Coso and 104 in a rout of Imperial Valley in December. However, they have also been held under 70 points in three of their seven losses.

Defense may be the deciding factor. Canyons has held opponents to 72 points or fewer in six of its nine wins. Antelope Valley will need to contain Boston and the Cougars’ rhythm to improve its record at home.

This matchup is the first of two scheduled meetings between the teams this season. They will play again at Canyons on Jan. 31.

Wednesday’s game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. PST tipoff at Antelope Valley College.

Following this game, Canyons will host Citrus on Jan. 14. Antelope Valley travels to face Citrus on Jan. 10.