Preview: Palomar Aims to Rebound Against Struggling Imperial Valley

SAN MARCOS, Calif. (Interstat) — The Palomar College men’s basketball team looks to get back on track Wednesday when it hosts winless Imperial Valley College in a California Community College matchup.

The game is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.

Palomar (10-5) enters the contest seeking to bounce back from a narrow 92-87 road loss to San Diego Miramar last Friday. Prior to that, the Comets had won three straight, including a 109-67 rout of San Diego Mesa and an 88-87 overtime thriller against Pasadena City.

Imperial Valley (0-16) continues to search for its first victory of the season. The Arabs are coming off a 74-56 home loss to San Diego Mesa on Jan. 9, part of a difficult stretch where they have lost by an average margin of 36.5 points over their last four games.

The Comets, who average 86.1 points per game, are heavily favored against an Imperial Valley squad that has allowed 90.1 points per contest and has been held under 60 points in nine of its 16 losses.

A player to watch for Palomar is guard Braylon Hollins. He provided a spark off the bench in the recent win over Pasadena City, logging 11 minutes and grabbing three rebounds. His backcourt energy will be key for the Comets’ up-tempo style.

For Imperial Valley, halting extended opponent runs and finding consistent offense will be critical. The Arabs have scored 70 or more points only twice this season.

This game marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the schools. They will meet again at Imperial Valley on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Following this game, Palomar travels to face Grossmont on Friday, Jan. 16. Imperial Valley’s next chance for a win will be at home against San Diego Miramar on Friday, Jan. 16.