GRIFFINS STEAL VICTORY OVER MESA

EL CAJON – On a night where the Griffin Men's Basketball team celebrated their four Sophomore players, it was a total team effort to grind out a 91-90 victory over San Diego Mesa College on Friday, Feb. 17 in the season finale for both squads. 

Freshman Daevin Celaya scored a team-high 20 points, 12 in the second half. Also, in double-figures was sophomore Samuel Stewart IV (SS4) with 16 in a starting role and freshman Brandon Tully with 11 off the bench. Every Griffin (11-16, 6-10 PCAC) on the roster scored at least three points in the victory. 

Freshman Elijah Williams led the Griffin rebounding efforts with ten total boards. 

The game was very back and forth as there were 15 ties and 18 lead changes throughout the game. Neither team led by more than 10 points at any point in the contest. 

With just under four minutes left in the game, it was tied 82-all. With 2:42 DeAndre Allison (four points, two rebounds) made a layup to tie it up at 84. Twenty seconds later, Allison would grab his final rebound and got the ball eventually to Celaya who would make a jumper to give the Griffins a two-point advantage at 86-84.  With 107 seconds left (1:47) Mesa (15-13, 10-6 PCAC) would sink two free throws to knot it back up at 86. In two possessions Grossmont would extend the lead to 90-86. After a couple of fouls against GC and the subsequent free throws were made, it was 90-90 with just 16 seconds left. 

Stewart IV was fouled shooting with five seconds remaining. SS4 would hit the first of two free throws to give Grossmont a 91-90 lead. He would purposefully miss, and got his own rebound. Mesa would immediately foul him with three seconds left. Again, he would make the trip to the free throw line. It wasn't by design, but Sammy would miss the first free throw. As he did previously, he purposefully missed so that he could get the rebound and close the game out. Only one problem, he left the line just a tick too early and was not given the benefit of doubt. So Mesa had the ball at the opposite end of the court with just over one second left in the game. The Olympians would inbound the ball to about mid court. The heave by Mesa came up short and the Griffins won. 

On the season, the Griffins were in the top three of seven different categories in the entire State of California (100 schools). Grossmont launched the most shots from the field as well as three-pointers attempted, along with offensive rebounds (a category that they had just under a five-rebound advantage over second place) and total rebounds. They were second in the State in three-pointers made with 301 and turnovers caused (21.9 per game, Orange Coast led with 23.5 per game). Grossmont was the third best team in the State when looking at steals caused with 12.1 per game (Orange Coast had 13.1 to lead the State). 

NOTES: Three Griffins were named to the All-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Awards list. Stewart IV was a first team member, while Tully and Payne were honorable mentions.