COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Cypress Beats Riverside to Advance to Championship Game

Eric Pauley scored 23 points and Charles Lockard 17 as Cypress College hung on for a 76-73 victory over Riverside in a championship semifinal of the Golden West men’s basketball tournament Friday.

Cypress led by as many as 16 early in the second half before Riverside rallied with three-point baskets. The Tigers (5-5) scored seven in the last 4:20 to close the gap. Cypress led, 75-73, with 20 seconds but turned the ball over. Riverside’s Fred Haygood dribbled up court for Riverside but ran into crowd and lost the ball to Cypress’ Brian Crawley, who was fouled with three seconds left.

Cypress (6-4) plays Cerritos, a 109-81 winner over Golden West, in the final at 8 p.m. tonight. Golden West plays Riverside at 6 p.m. for third place.