The Mt. San Jacinto Eagles men’s basketball team had nine of its 10 players reach the scoring column with four players in double figures – Taylor Bell, Montreal Harris, Josh Gouch and Anthony Dees – as the Eagles defeated the visiting Barstow Vikings 68-59 in a Foothill Conference game at MSJC on Feb. 1.

Bell finished with 15 points to lead MSJC in scoring and Anthony Dees recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Harris and Gouch also had strong games with Harris scoring 14 points and pulling down 9 rebounds, while Gouch contributed 13 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals.

The win also helps the Eagles regroup after losing 74-71 at San Bernardino Valley College, Jan. 28. That loss broke the Eagles 11-game win streak in which the Eagles hadn’t tasted defeat since Dec. 4. Bell, a sophomore from Redlands, had a hot shooting night and lead all scorers with 27 points. Gouch had 16.

The Eagles took the lead against Barstow in the opening seconds on Montreal Harris’s slam dunk and steadily pulled away, leading 35-19 at halftime. Gouch scored nine points and Harris had eight in leading the first-half effort.

In the second half, Barstow pulled within five at 35-30, but then Dees doused the Vikings hopes of a comeback by hitting a three-pointer, and sinking three consecutive free throws after being fouled behind the arc. Bell was 4 of 7 from beyond the three-point line, while Dees was 3 for 8. Barstow was led in scoring by Abdulsamad Zaid with 21 points, the only Viking to reach double figures.

MSJC 88, College of The Desert 82

The MSJC men’s basketball team started the game on an 18-4 run and never looked back as they defeated visiting College of the Desert last Saturday to remain one game ahead of San Bernardino Valley (8-2, 19-5) in the race for the Foothill Conference title.

The fast start was spearheaded by D’Anthony Peterson who scored 15 of his team high 18 points in the first half as the Eagles built a 50-35 halftime lead. Taylor Bell added 17 points for the Eagles, while Anthony Dees scored 13. Alex Wilson finished with nine points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Jamar Cannon also scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds.

The win moved the Eagles to 20-4 overall and 9-1 in the Foothill Conference. MSJC, currently ranked No. 4 in the state, reached the 20-win mark for the fifth straight season.

The Eagles finish conference play at home next week. On Wednesday they host Rio Hondo at 7 p.m. And On Saturday, the Foothill’s third-place team, Antelope Valley (7-3, 19-5), tangles with Eagles. The Marauders handed the Eagles a 78-72 loss back on Dec. 4. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.