COD (2-8) collected their first wins of the season on a road trip, knocking off the host Santa Barbara City Vaqueros, then defeating the LA Valley Monarchs, before falling to the #2 team in the state, the Ventura Pirates in the Championship game.

The Roadrunners opened up the 47th annual Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) Classic facing the host Vaqueros (4-8). Desert would take a 13-point lead at the half and hold on for an 81-75 win, grabbing their first win of 2021.

Sophomore starting guard D.J. Adams (Moreno Valley H.S.) would lead the Roadrunners by scoring 12 of his 23 points in the first half, shooting 5 of 13 from the field and an impressive 11 of 13 from the free throw line. All while leading the team in assists (5) and steals (3) in the win.

Freshman starting center Garrett Hayden (Palm Desert H.S.) would score 9 of his 10 points in the first half, going 4 for 4 from the field and leading the team with 9 total rebounds. Freshman guard Joziaha Winfrey (Desert Hot Springs H.S.) would lead all bench scorers with 5 of his 18 points in the first half, shooting 6 of 11 from the field and putting in 4 of 7 from the charity stripe and sophomore guard D'Shaun Barrett (Twentynine Palms H.S.) would contribute 9 of his 17 points in the first half, shooting an amazing 5 of 10 from beyond the three-point line on the night.

In the second round of the SBCC Classic, the Roadrunners were matched up with an Los Angeles Valley team which had also just won their first game of the 2021-22 season the previous night.

Desert took an 8-point lead at the break, 37-29, then sophomore starting guard Marquis McKinzey (Los Angeles John C. Fremont) absolutely lit up the scoreboard. Scoring all 21 of his points by way of the three and he could not be stopped, as the Roadrunners went on to skewer the Monarchs, 78-60, on their way to the Championship game.

Adams would, once again, lead the way for Desert, scoring 14 of his 24 points in the first half, shooting 6 of 14 from the field, going 3 for 4 from beyond three-point range and having another very good night from the free throw line, going 9 for 11, while co-leading the team in steals (2).

McKinzey was a man possessed from beyond the arc, shooting 7 of 12 from three-point range, all in the second half and co-leading the team in steals (2) and Barrett scoring all 9 of his points in the first half, shooting 3 of 4 from beyond the arc and leading the team in total boards (7) and co-leading the team in assists (4).

In the SBCC Classic Championship game, the Roadrunners faced off with the #2 team in the state, the Ventura Pirates. The Roadrunners would take a narrow 2-point lead at the half, 40-38, then, as good teams tend to do, Ventura adjusted at the break and overwhelmed Desert in the second half, with the Pirates taking the title, 93-71.

For their efforts throughout the tournament, both Adams and McKinzey were named to the All-Tournament team.

In this game, McKinzey would lead the way for the Roadrunners, scoring 15 of his 18 points in the first half, shooting 6 of 13 from the field and 5 of 11 from three-point range, while co-leading the team in steals (2).

Adams would score 8 of his 12 points in the first half, adding 3 assists and Winfrey would lead the team in assists (4) and co-lead in steals (2) off of the bench.

Barrett would score 8 of his 13 points off of the bench in the first half, shooting 4 of 10 from the field and 2 of 7 from beyond the arc.

Follow COD Athletics on Twitter @COD_Athletics Instagram @COD_Athletics or Facebook @College of the Desert Athletics

For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information, Photo & Story provided by COD Sports Information.