The Irvine Valley men's basketball team continued to shine to start the 2025-26 season with a 78-63 victory at College of the Desert on Tuesday night.
No. 23 in the state Irvine Valley moved its record to 6-2 overall.
It was a close first half, but IVC took control in the final 20 minutes of the game, out-scoring COD, 44-31, for the win.
Irvine Valley was behind in the first minute, but never trailed after that.
Sophomore post Matt Mowers finished with a game-high 25 points and added six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Freshman guard Ahmad Alhammouri ended with 17 points and three assists and freshman point guard Santos Cordero contributed seven points, two assists and two steals (hard hat player of the game) for IVC.
The Lasers also had sophomore sophomore Garrett Trayer contribute eight rebounds, five assists and one blocked shot.
Irvine Valley out-rebounded COD, 50-40, but the big stat of the game for the Lasers was the difference in second-chance points.
IVC finished with 17 points and the Roadrunners had just six.
Irvine Valley will play again in the Monterey Bay Classic next Thursday through Saturday (Dec. 4-6).
IVC opens against Sierra on Dec. 4 at 3 p.m.
