The Knights won their fourth consecutive game on Friday by defeating Imperial Valley, 74-65, in front of the home crowd. Martin Thomas led the Knights with 17 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in a game that was close throughout until the final minute when the Knights were able to pull away.
Mike Scott put in 15 points and collected nine rebounds, while Caleb Singleton scored 14 points to go with seven rebounds.
The Knights fell behind by as many as nine points in the first half, but used a 24-6 run to take a nine-point lead of their own. SDCC went into the locker room at halftime with a 38-32 lead.
The Imperial Valley Arabs, who were led by Miles Hamilton's 24 points, stayed with the Knights for most of the second half and even took a 63-62 lead with 2:22 remaining after a pair of free throws by Rishawn Brown.
SDCC responded with a layup from Thomas and two made free throws by Mike Scott to go up, 66-63.
Another pair of free throws by the Arabs' Brown got Imperial Valley within a point, but Thomas attacked their defense and drove the lane for a layup. Thomas then converted two free throws on the Knights next possession and their defense held strong, not allowing another point from IVC.
The Knights outscored IVC, 34-16, on points in the paint. They also outscored IVC, 15-6, on second chance points.
SDCC has won eight of their last nine games and are now alone atop the PCAC South division with a 12-6 overall record and 3-0 PCAC record.
