SAN MARCOS, Calif. (Interstat) — The Palomar Comets showcased their offensive firepower in a decisive 101-74 victory over the MiraCosta Spartans in a California Community College Athletic Association men’s basketball game Wednesday night.

From the opening tip, the Comets established a dominant pace that the Spartans could not match. Palomar scored the game’s first 11 points, a run capped by a Benjie Nudo 3-pointer that forced a MiraCosta timeout just over two minutes into the contest. The early deficit set the tone for the evening, as MiraCosta struggled to find consistent offense against Palomar’s efficient attack.

The most important stretch of the game solidified in the first quarter, where Palomar built an insurmountable lead. Despite a brief response from MiraCosta’s Alonzo Smith, who hit a 3-pointer to make it 13-6, the Comets relentlessly pushed the ball. Led by Angel Ochoa’s scoring and playmaking and Justin White’s work inside, Palomar closed the period on a 37-28 run to take a 50-41 lead into the second quarter. The Comets’ 50-point first-quarter outburst proved to be the critical blow, as they never relinquished control.

Palomar’s offensive execution was nearly flawless. The Comets shot 56% from the field, compared to MiraCosta’s 37%. They also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 21 of 25 attempts. MiraCosta, meanwhile, went 8 for 15 from the stripe. The Comets also won the rebounding battle 45-37.

Isaiah Pomare, named the top star for Palomar, delivered a standout performance with 18 points and 17 rebounds. He was complemented by a prolific scoring trio: Angel Ochoa led all scorers with 30 points and added six assists, Benjie Nudo contributed 26 points, and Justin White recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

For MiraCosta, Alonzo Smith led the way with 18 points. Trmale Tipler added 10 points and six rebounds, and Travis Snider came off the bench to provide seven points and seven rebounds. The Spartans’ offense was hampered by 13 turnovers and cold shooting, particularly from beyond the arc where they made only 8 of 27 attempts.

With the win, Palomar improved its season record to 13-5. MiraCosta fell to 7-10. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Palomar entered the game with an 84.5% probability to win, a projection they emphatically fulfilled with their high-scoring performance.

Palomar is scheduled to play next at San Diego City on Friday. MiraCosta will host San Diego Miramar, also on Friday. The two teams are set for a rematch in Oceanside on Feb. 18.