On Tuesday, the Santa Rosa Bear Cubs (13-6, 5-2) hosted the Diablo Valley College Vikings (8-11, 4-3). The Bear Cubs returned home to Haehl Pavillion on a three-game winning streak after defeating Modesto JC on the road the previous week. Santa Rosa would have their work cut for them as leading scorer, Guard, Chris Holley did not dress. With Holley's absence, the Bear Cubs hoped that Forward, Justin Smith could provide a spark as he returned to game action for the first time since late December.
On the game's first possession, the Bear Cubs narrowly beat the shot clock buzzer with a layup from Guard, Yatyn Anderson. Santa Rosa then went cold from the floor for the next four minutes while DVC took a 5-2 lead. Forward, Ezekiel Stallworth broke the scoring drought by converting a three-point play to tie the game. The Vikings responded quickly by scoring five points in their next two possessions to retake the lead. Field goals from Smith and Stallworth cut Santa Rosa's deficit to one point with 12:53 left in the half. After a DVC layup, Anderson knocked down Santa Rosa's first three-point basket of the game to even the score at 12 all. DVC took the lead again with a pair of free throws, but Santa Rosa Guard, Jackson Smyth made a fadeaway jumper to tie the game once more with 9:30 before halftime. Over the next five minutes The Vikings' offense started to heat up as DVC went on a 9-4 run to make the score 23-18, all four of Santa Rosa's points came from Smyth. Smith added two free throws for the Bear Cubs, but DVC countered with a three-pointer which made the score 26-20 as Santa Rosa called time out at the 3:00 mark. Out of the time out, Anderson scored four quick points for the Bear Cubs, but the Vikings countered with three straight made baskets to give DVC their largest lead of the half 33-24. In the final minute, Guard, Andrew Pengel made a driving layup. Santa Rosa trailed at the half 33-26.
Despite a seven-point halftime lead, DVC dialed up a full-court press, intending to capitalize on their positive momentum. A pair of three-pointers coming out of the half, with a Bear Cub layup in between, gave the Vikings their largest lead of the night at 39-28 with 17:53 left. On the next possession, Stallworth made a circus three-point shot to beat the shot clock and keep Santa Rosa in the game. Sensing a shift in momentum, the Bear Cubs started attacking the basket. After a DVC made basket, Stallworth drove in the paint and found a cutting Anderson for an easy layup. On the next possession, two defenders went with Anderson, who found Guard, Zeke Grund for a three-pointer. The Vikings called time out, and with 15:11 remaining, the Bear Cubs trailed by just five points 41-36. The next two minutes only produced two points for each team. After DVC made a three-pointer at the 12:57 mark, giving the Vikings an eight-point advantage. A 6-0 run by the Bear Cubs including four quick points from Smith, and a strong post move by Forward, Stephen Ransom cut the deficit to 46-44 with 11:12 remaining. A basket from Smith, then a steal and layup from Pengel, gave Santa Rosa the lead for the first time since the first possession of the game. After DVC tied the game at 48, Anderson would convert an and-one opportunity, making the score 51-48 Santa Rosa. The Vikings would not go away quietly and even regained a two-point lead with 6:54 left. Stallworth sliced right through the Viking press and tied the game on the next possession. Two free throws from Anderson gave Santa Rosa a two-point lead, but DVC evened the score 55 all at 5:43. The Bear Cubs went on a 9-0 run highlighted by a three from Anderson and four timely free throws by Pengel. With 2:05 left, a DVC player was fouled on a made three-point shot and added a free throw to make it a 65-59 game. A three-point play by Smith sealed the comeback for the Bear Cubs. After some fouling by DVC, the final score was SR: 72 DVC: 61. The offensive splits for the Bear Cubs were 43.6% (24-55) from the field, 18.2% (4-22) from 3, and 74.1% (20-27) from the free throw line. Guard, Yatyn Anderson led scorers with 20 points, Forward, Justin Smith and Guard, Andrew Pengel both contributed 13 points off the bench, and Forward, Ezekiel Stallworth had 10 points.
Santa Rosa, who improved to (14-6, 6-2) with travel Friday to take on the Folsom Lake Falcons (6-13, 1-6). The Bear Cubs will look to potentially be tied at the top of the Big 8 standings.