Alexander Nets 28 to Push Ventura Past LA Pierce

Carter Alexander hit a season-best six 3-pointers en route to 28 points leading the Pirates' men's basketball team to an 88-79 victory over Los Angeles Pierce Saturday at the Athletic Event Center. Dominik Contreras scored 22 points while Caleb Gilbert and Reese Widerburg added 17 and 11 points, respectively for Ventura (10-10, 3-1).

Alexander opened the game on fire, sandwiching a pair of triples around two buckets by Widerburg as VC held a 10-7 margin with 15:48 remaining in the opening half. Gilbert followed with two baskets, Alexander scored a deuce, Gilbert scored again and Contreras hit from range to complete a 16-0 Pirate run for a 21-7 advantage with 12:31 on the clock.

Ventura was able to maintain the lead throughout the rest of the period, expanding it to 16 points, 44-28 on Beckham Rutherford's three at the 2:13 mark. Contreras owned the final minute for VC, scoring a pair of free throws followed by a two, then a half-court buzzer beater to give the Pirates a 51-31 halftime margin.

The Brahmas did not go quietly in the second half, scoring the first two buckets of the stanza and outscoring the Pirates 16-4 over the first five minutes of play following intermission. Back-to-back buckets by Contreras stopped the bleeding for Ventura and Alexander's three at the 12:38 mark made it 64-50. 

The Brahmas crept within 11 points, 70-59, on a 3-point play, but Widerburg answered with a triple to hold Pierce off. Alexander's final three of the game came with 6:50 remaining, expanding the Ventura advantage back to 18, 81-63. Gilbert's two at the 3:35 mark sealed the win, giving VC a 87-71 margin and the Pirates moved on to the 88-79 victory.

VC next hosts Santa Barbara on Wednesday Jan. 24. Tip-off is slated for 5:00 pm at the AEC.