Preview: Copper Mountain at Mount San Jacinto Men’s Basketball

SAN JACINTO, Calif. (Interstat) — A pivotal California community college men’s basketball matchup awaits Wednesday as the Mount San Jacinto Eagles host the Copper Mountain Fighting Cacti.

Both teams enter with nearly identical records and momentum. Mount San Jacinto (15-6 overall) has won five of its last six, including a dramatic 83-82 road victory at Chaffey on Saturday. Copper Mountain (14-6) is riding a three-game winning streak, most recently a dominant 100-56 home win over Desert.

The Eagles will look to avenge an 83-71 loss at Copper Mountain on Dec. 17, the only previous meeting this season. In that game, the Fighting Cacti’s defense keyed the victory.

A key matchup will feature two of the region’s top performers. Mount San Jacinto’s Willie Miller has been a consistent force, averaging a near triple-double over his last six games. He is coming off a 21-point, 9-rebound effort in the win over Chaffey.

For Copper Mountain, guard Tyrece Rose is a dynamic scorer, evidenced by a 22-point performance in just one minute of action in a Jan. 17 win at Barstow. His scoring punch will be vital against the Eagles’ defense.

The game features two of the hotter teams in the conference. Mount San Jacinto’s offense has averaged 93 points per game during its current three-game win streak. Copper Mountain has held opponents to 58 points per game during its own three-game run.

With both teams jockeying for postseason positioning in a tight conference race, Wednesday’s contest carries significant weight. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. PST at Mount San Jacinto College.