Preview: Orange Coast at Fullerton Men’s Basketball

FULLERTON, Calif. (Interstat) — A stark contrast in fortunes will be on display Friday night when the state-leading Fullerton Hornets host the struggling Orange Coast Pirates in a California Community College men’s basketball matchup.

The game, scheduled for Jan. 23, 2026, pits a Hornets squad riding high at 17-1 overall against a Pirates team mired in an 18-game skid, now 1-18 on the season. Fullerton enters having won its last five contests, most recently a 69-52 road victory over Cypress on Jan. 16 where Bishop Brooks scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Brooks, a key contributor for the Hornets, has been efficient and productive. He is averaging 14.8 points over his last five games, including a 23-point performance in the win over Cypress. He is supported by a balanced lineup that includes Brayden Smith and Trey Thompson.

Orange Coast is seeking any spark to reverse its trajectory. The Pirates are coming off a 79-60 home loss to Irvine Valley on Wednesday. In that game, forward Chris Obiajulu led the way with 16 points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes. Obiajulu has been a consistent bright spot during the losing streak, averaging 16.1 points and 5.6 rebounds over his last seven contests. His season-high 23 points came in the team’s sole victory, an 87-80 win at Santa Barbara on Dec. 30.

The Pirates’ challenges are evident, having lost those seven games by an average margin of 20.1 points. Meanwhile, Fullerton has dominated its competition, winning its last five by an average of 19.4 points.

This matchup is the first of two scheduled meetings between the teams this season. They are slated to meet again at Orange Coast on Feb. 18.

For the Pirates, the mission is to find an upset on the road against the state’s top team. For the Hornets, the task is to maintain their dominant form and avoid a letdown against a heavy underdog.

Tip-off is set for Friday night at Fullerton College.