Griffins drop season opener in OT at COD tourney

2017-18 GROSSMONT GRIFFINS MEN’S BASKETBALL

COPPER MOUNTAIN 84, GRIFFINS 78 (OT)

EastCountySports.com staff report

PALM DESERT – The Grossmont College men’s basketball team had all five starters score in double figures, but the Griffins lost in overtime to Copper Mountain at College of the Desert’s Frank Garcia Tournament here Thursday evening.

Ninth-ranked Copper Mountain knocked off 13th ranked Grossmont, 84-78, in a battle of ranked Southern California teams.

Sophomore JOSH MORAN had 18 points, while sophomore DAVID WHEELER both tallied 17 points in the season-opener for the Griffs.

Sophomore RONALD BLAIN had 10 points and a team-high 14 rebounds for Grossmont.

Ultimately, the Griffins were done in by their 43.3 percent field goal shooting, while Copper Mountain shot 50 percent from the field.

Grossmont trailed 40-35 at halftime.

Copper Mountain led 68-66 with 1:52 left in regulation, but the game went into overtime tied at 70-all.

Grossmont won its opener last year at this tournament, 69-58, over Long Beach City.

The Griffins will face host College of the Desert on Friday at 3 p.m. at Roadrunner Gym.

Thursday night, West L.A. defeated the Roadrunners, 77-66, after COD led 35-27 at halftime.