Preview of Saturday’s California Community College Men’s Basketball Game

GLENDALE, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging state power meets a team seeking stability when the Citrus College Owls visit the West Los Angeles College Wildcats in a key California community college men’s basketball matchup Saturday.

The Owls (17-1), whose only loss came in overtime on Jan. 2, enter on a seven-game winning streak and have been dominant in conference play. They are averaging 105.4 points per game during that stretch, including a 147-85 rout of Santa Monica last Saturday and a 109-78 victory over Bakersfield on Wednesday.

Citrus is led by guard Leo Ricketts, who has scored 20 or more points in four of his last five games. He is coming off a 22-point performance against Bakersfield. Forward Rockwell Reynolds added 14 points and nine rebounds in that win, while Dev Hamilton contributed 20 points.

West Los Angeles (12-6) has lost two of its last three, including a 92-73 defeat at Canyons on Wednesday. In that game, guard Chase Coleman scored 20 points. Coleman has been a bright spot, averaging 21.2 points over his last five contests, including a 27-point effort in a close loss to Antelope Valley last Saturday.

The Wildcats will need a focused defensive effort to slow the high-powered Citrus offense. West Los Angeles has shown resilience in close games, winning 100-97 in overtime at Bakersfield on Jan. 10, but containing the Owls’ balanced attack presents a significant challenge.

This game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They are scheduled to play again at Citrus on Feb. 18.

Saturday’s tipoff is set for 5 p.m. PST at West Los Angeles College.