By Matthew Peirson and Kevin Sheridan

American River College’s men’s basketball team lost Friday night at San Joaquin Delta College 65-58, keeping the game close from start to finish but never recovering from an early game scoring drought as the team attempted to fight back in a defensive-dominated game.

Before the game, the team was left wondering if the playoffs were a possibility or not.

According to ARC head coach Mark Giorgi, if the team won, they would have a “99.9 percent” chance of making the playoffs. If they lost, those chances would have dwindled to being “50-50.”

Immediately following the game, many of the players were seen on the court with dejected looks on their faces.

Said center Eugene Crockett, “It just sucks to know that this is it … or, it might be.”

Forward Austin Lobo agreed with his teammate about taking a tough loss.

“It’s tough,” Lobo said. “A win here would’ve been a last conference win for our sophomores (and) secured a playoff spot.”

Added Lobo, “Just knowing it’s up in the air has left us a little salty.”

The game was physical from the opening tip, with each team struggling to score early. SJDC did not get its first field goal until almost four minutes into the contest.

Crockett said the team has struggled on the road all season to get into an offensive flow.

“That’s been our achilles heel all year. Just being able to step into someone else’s gym and knock down shots,” he said.

Giorgi bluntly agreed when told of Crockett’s remarks.

“Oh hell yeah. It’s ridiculous,” he said. “We were 0-14 from the 3-point line.”

Following a timeout, however, SJDC ripped off eight straight points, and would not surrender the lead for the remainder of the game.

At halftime, ARC trailed by a score of 32-24.

SJDC led by double digits early in the second half, but ARC fought back, cutting the score to as close as 51-45 with just under five minutes to go.

ARC failed to score after a turnover by SJDC with just over two minutes to play, unable to make SJDC pay for allowing the team three possessions due to offensive rebounds.

On one play late in the game, Crockett was blocked twice on the same play.

ARC started to foul intentionally at the 1:43 mark, but had run out of time.

Immediately following the game, many of the players were seen on the court with dejected looks on their faces.

Head coach Mark Giorgi agreed it was a tough loss to take, but ultimately the game falls on the team’s play.