MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Saddleback College Bobcats used a dominant second-quarter surge to pull away from the Orange Coast College Pirates and secure an 84-71 victory in a California Community College Athletic Association men’s basketball game Friday night.

The game, a rematch of a Jan. 28 contest also won by Saddleback, was closer than the final score indicated for much of the first quarter before the Bobcats’ efficiency and rebounding prowess created an insurmountable gap.

Orange Coast, which fell to 1-27 overall, started strong behind guard Jay Fromm, who finished with a team-high 23 points. The Pirates held an early lead and trailed by just five points, 36-31, after a fast-paced opening period. The second quarter, however, belonged entirely to Saddleback, which improved to 14-14.

The most important part of the game was a decisive 22-6 run by Saddleback spanning the late first and early second quarters. After Orange Coast’s Chris Obiajulu hit a 3-pointer to cut Saddleback’s lead to 26-23 with 3:55 left in the first, the Bobcats closed the quarter on a 10-8 spurt. They then opened the second quarter with 12 of the first 16 points, turning a 36-31 advantage into a 48-35 lead with 15:56 remaining. This stretch, fueled by transition baskets and interior scoring, established a double-digit margin that Orange Coast would challenge but never overcome.

Saddleback’s victory was built on exceptional shooting and complete control of the glass. The Bobcats shot 59 percent from the floor, making 32 of 54 attempts, while the Pirates managed just 40 percent on 27-of-68 shooting. The rebounding disparity was even more stark, with Saddleback holding a 41-20 advantage. That led to a significant edge in second-chance opportunities and limited Orange Coast’s offensive possessions.

Charlie Stallings was the top star for Saddleback, spearheading the second-quarter charge and finishing with 26 points. He was particularly effective driving to the basket and drawing fouls. Mark Reichner added 16 points and Malachi Hiers posted a near double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds. Michael Bichel facilitated the offense with a game-high 8 assists.

Despite the loss, Orange Coast showed tenacity, forcing 19 Saddleback turnovers and converting them into transition opportunities. Fromm’s 23-point effort was supported by Jayden Baude with 11 points and Chris Obiajulu with 12. The Pirates’ defensive pressure kept them within striking distance at times, but they could not consistently string together stops and scores to close the gap.

Saddleback’s offensive rating of 112.0 on 75 possessions underscored its efficient night, while Orange Coast’s rating of 89.1 reflected its struggles against the Bobcats’ defense and rebounding strength. The win gives Saddleback a season sweep of the Pirates and moves the Bobcats to .500 as they approach the conclusion of conference play.