Men's Basketball Concludes Gregg Anderson Memorial Tournament With Win Over Imperial Valley

LA Pierce closed out the Gregg Anderson Memorial Tournament on a high note Sunday, grinding out a 69–52 victory over Imperial Valley at Antelope Valley College.

Pierce controlled the game on the glass from start to finish, outrebounding Imperial Valley 53–39, including 21 second-chance points, which proved to be one of the defining differences. The Brahmas also turned 23 Imperial Valley turnovers into 24 points.

Freshman guard Nick Cross delivered a breakout performance, scoring a team high 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including two threes, while adding five rebounds. Cross was particularly impactful after halftime, where he scored 15 of his 18 points. Forward Milan Kis added 9 points and 5 rebounds. 

Jalen Thomas chipped in 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists, anchoring Pierce's interior play on both ends. Bench production was again a major strength, with the Brahmas' reserves combining for 48 points. Defensively, Pierce held Imperial Valley to 27.4% shooting and forced long offensive possessions that resulted in tough, contested looks. Despite a 22-point effort from Imperial Valley's Fernando Villalba. 

With the tournament now wrapped up, Pierce turns its attention to the final stretch of non-conference play before opening Western State Conference action next month.