CYPRESS, Calif. (Interstat) — In a high-octane, back-and-forth affair that defied pregame projections, the Santa Ana Dons avenged a loss from earlier in the season by outlasting the Cypress Chargers 84-79 in a California Community College Athletic Association men’s basketball game Friday night.

The contest, played before a raucous home crowd at Cypress College, was a tale of two distinct halves defined by explosive offensive runs and a pivotal final-minute stand. The Dons, entering as underdogs according to advanced metrics, improved to 19-8 overall. The Chargers fell to 15-12.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the final 40 seconds. Trailing 79-76 after a deep three-pointer from Cypress’s Amaan Zavahir, Santa Ana needed a response. Following a Chargers timeout, Cypress committed a foul to stop the clock, sending Santa Ana’s Salvador Lara to the line. He calmly sank both free throws to cut the deficit to one point.

On the ensuing possession, Cypress star Michael Wright, who had been dominant all night, drove and scored a layup while being fouled. He completed the three-point play, pushing the Chargers’ lead back to four at 79-75 with just 40 seconds remaining. Undeterred, Santa Ana worked the ball inside to Kelvin Paul, who converted a layup to make it a two-point game.

Needing a defensive stop, the Dons forced a contested three-point attempt from Cypress’s Isaiah Valenzuela that missed. After a scramble, Wright fouled Santa Ana’s Christien Jimenez with five seconds left. Jimenez made the first free throw to extend the lead to three. His second attempt missed, but the Chargers’ desperation heave from well beyond half-court was off target, sealing the Santa Ana victory.

The game’s conclusion capped a wild second half that saw Cypress mount a furious comeback. Santa Ana had built a commanding 44-34 lead by halftime, fueled by efficient shooting and early three-pointers. The Dons shot 52.5 percent from the floor in the opening period, while the Chargers struggled, hitting only 9 of 37 attempts from three-point range for the game.

Cypress refused to fade, opening the second half with increased defensive pressure. Led by Wright’s relentless attacking, the Chargers slowly chipped away at the deficit. Wright finished with a game-high 30 points, adding six rebounds and six blocked shots. Zavahir supported him with 16 points.

Santa Ana’s offense, however, proved more balanced and efficient down the stretch. Cameron Swist led the Dons with 22 points, while Paul provided a crucial spark off the bench with 16 points. Aaron De Santiago added 14 points and six rebounds, and Jimenez orchestrated the offense with a game-high eight assists.

Statistical efficiency told the story of Santa Ana’s narrow win. The Dons scored 84 points on 69 possessions, an offensive rating of 121.6, slightly edging Cypress’s 118.2 rating. Santa Ana’s ability to take care of the ball in key moments, despite having eight turnovers to Cypress’s four, and their superior shooting from the field — 52.5 percent to Cypress’s 41.7 percent — provided the necessary margin.

The win marked a significant rebound for Santa Ana, which had lost three of its last four games, including a 77-69 defeat to this same Cypress team just over three weeks prior. For Cypress, the loss snapped a two-game winning streak and served as a missed opportunity to solidify its standing after being projected as heavy favorites at home. The result underscored the parity and intensity of conference play, decided ultimately by a handful of plays in the game’s tense final minute.