Knights Win 2-of-3 at Miramar Tourney; Ogugua, Williams Make All-Tourney

San Diego City's men's basketball team opened its 2021-22 campaign at the Gehler Memorial Tournament (Miramar College) on Thursday and advanced to the championship game after defeating Copper Mountain and MiraCosta, but fell to the hosts, 62-55, in the title game. Jonathan Ogugua and Josh Williams were selected to the all-tournament team.

The Knights opened the tournament against Copper Mountain and were able to get a 91-71 victory with Ogugua and Graham Cook leading the way with 18 points a piece. Drew Cisse added 12 points and Raphael Allen provided 16 points off the bench. 

In the semifinals on Friday, the Knights got off to a very slow start. MiraCosta scored the first 14 points of the game and built that lead to as many as 25 points late in the first half. City, however, closed the first half with 12-2 run in the final four minutes to cut MiraCosta's lead down to 15 at halftime. 

With the Spartans ahead by 17 midway through the second half, the Knights scored 12 consecutive points to get within five with 8:23 remaining. Ogugua hit five 3-pointers in the second half, the last of which tied the game at 79-79 with 1:27 remaining in the game. 

Both teams missed on the their next possessions so MiraCosta had the ball back with 36 seconds on the clock. The Spartans then turned it over and the Knights had the ball for one last chance to get a win in regulation. After a time out, Williams hit the game-winning jumper with four seconds left and MiraCosta did not get another opportunity.

Ogugua finished with 24 points and four steals. Williams added 20 points and Cisse contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds. 

Williams and Ogugua led the Knights with 17 and 15 points, respectively, in the championship game against Miramar. City was unable to carry over the momentum of the win over MiraCosta and lost to Miramar, 62-55.

This tournament showed just how competitive the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference is going to be this year with the Knights, Miramar, MiraCosta, and Palomar all making the semifinals. 

Next up for City will be the Knights Invitational, a 2-day tournament beginning on Friday, November 12. The Knights will host Orange Coast on Friday at 3 p.m. and then will face Barstow on Saturday at 1 p.m.

All four games of the Invitational will be live-streamed on the Knights' YouTube channel.

Knights Invitational Schedule

Friday, Nov. 12

Barstow vs. Southwestern at 1 p.m.

Knights vs. Orange Coast at 3 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 13

Knights vs. Barstow at 1 p.m.

Orange Coast vs. Southwestern at 3 p.m.