Preview: De Anza at Canada (Calif.) in Key Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Clash

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (Interstat) — A tightly contested California junior college men’s basketball season series will see its rubber match Friday when the De Anza Mountain Lions visit the Canada Colts.

Both teams enter the 7 p.m. tipoff at Canada College with identical 1-1 records within the Coast Conference North division and nearly parallel overall seasons. De Anza stands at 9-13, while Canada is 9-14. The matchup carries significant weight for postseason positioning in a crowded league race.

The teams’ first meeting this season was an instant classic. On Jan. 14, De Anza edged Canada 90-89 in overtime in Cupertino. That narrow victory for the Mountain Lions provides a psychological edge, but both squads have struggled for consistency since.

De Anza arrives reeling from a 56-96 road loss to San Francisco on Jan. 30. Prior to that, the Mountain Lions showed fight in a 79-83 defeat at Skyline on Jan. 28. Guard Mehki Thomas has been a bright spot, pouring in 20 points and grabbing eight rebounds in that Skyline game. His scoring burst will be vital for a De Anza offense that was held to a season-low 56 points last time out.

Canada also seeks to rebound from a lopsided loss, falling 61-80 at home to San Francisco on Wednesday. The Colts’ recent results have been a rollercoaster, featuring a 20-point win over San Mateo followed by a 29-point loss at Las Positas. Guard Shawn Acosta, who contributed seven points in a Jan. 16 road win at Chabot, will be looked to for backcourt stability.

The game features two coaches familiar with each other’s schemes after the recent overtime thriller. Expect a physical, guard-oriented contest where limiting turnovers and converting free throws could decide the outcome. With both teams clustered in the conference standings, Friday’s winner gains a crucial head-to-head tiebreaker and momentum for the final stretch of the regular season.

Following this game, De Anza hosts Ohlone on Feb. 11, while Canada welcomes Chabot on the same date.