Preview: Desert Roadrunners at Cerro Coso Coyotes

RIDGECREST, Calif. (Interstat) — Two men’s junior college basketball teams seeking to halt prolonged slides will meet Wednesday when the Desert Roadrunners visit the Cerro Coso Coyotes.

The California community college matchup features teams with a combined 11-32 record this season. Desert (5-17) enters on a five-game losing streak, while Cerro Coso (6-15) snapped a six-game skid with a 71-60 road win over Copper Mountain on Feb. 4.

The Roadrunners will lean on forward Payton Joseph, who is coming off a 19-point, 7-rebound performance in a 92-75 home loss to San Bernardino Valley on Saturday. In the teams’ previous meeting this season, a Jan. 10 clash in Palm Desert, Desert secured an 82-76 victory. De’miem King added 23 points and 10 rebounds in the recent loss to San Bernardino Valley.

Cerro Coso counters with forward Issiakoi Aminou, who has been a consistent interior presence. Aminou averaged 12.2 points and 6.8 rebounds over a recent six-game stretch, including a 13-point, 8-rebound, 3-block effort in a loss to Chaffey on Jan. 31.

Both teams have struggled defensively, with Desert allowing an average of 91.2 points during its current losing streak. Cerro Coso has shown recent improvement, holding its last two opponents under 75 points after previously yielding 80 or more in four straight games.

The Coyotes will look to avenge their January loss to Desert and build momentum before a road test at Mount San Jacinto on Saturday. The Roadrunners aim to find their first win since Jan. 14 and split the season series.

Tip-off is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.