SANTA ANA, Calif. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of form and expectation, the Cypress Chargers upset the Santa Ana Dons 77-69 in a California Community College Athletic Association men’s basketball game Wednesday night.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for Cypress and handed Santa Ana just its third loss of the season. Entering the contest, statistical models gave the Dons a 78.4 percent probability of winning.

The most important part of the game was its shocking start. Cypress, a .500 team, opened with a blistering 20-2 run, capitalizing on a series of Santa Ana misses and turnovers. The Dons missed their first 11 field goal attempts and did not score a basket until a Daniel Taite jump shot with 16:43 remaining in the opening quarter. By that point, the Chargers had already built an 18-point lead, fueled by early three-pointers from Jack Rivera and Isaiah Valenzuela.

Cypress maintained its offensive efficiency and defensive pressure throughout the first half, shooting 13 of 39 from three-point range for the game and building a 38-25 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Chargers never trailed.

Santa Ana, which entered the game with a 17-2 record, mounted a significant challenge in the second quarter, outscoring Cypress 44-39. Cameron Swist led the charge for the Dons, scoring 26 points, including six three-pointers. Joshua Garland added 18 points for Santa Ana.

However, every Dons rally was met with a critical response from Cypress. The Chargers’ backcourt of Michael Wright and Zack Moritz provided consistent scoring, with Wright scoring 18 points and Moritz adding 14. Amaan Zavahir also contributed 14 points off the bench for Cypress.

The top star for Cypress was Jack Rivera, who delivered a dominant all-around performance with 12 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, bouncing back from a series of quieter offensive outings in recent games.

Despite Santa Ana’s second-quarter push, Cypress controlled the game’s tempo and key statistical categories. The Chargers outrebounded the Dons 46-35 and committed only eight turnovers, matching Santa Ana’s total. Cypress also posted an offensive rating of 110.9 points per 100 possessions, significantly outperforming Santa Ana’s 96.7.

The loss drops Santa Ana to 17-3 overall, while Cypress evens its record at 10-10.

Cypress next hosts Irvine Valley on Friday. Santa Ana travels to face Santiago Canyon, also on Friday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Cypress on Feb. 20.