The MSJC men's basketball team improved to 3-0 in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference on Saturday with a hard fought road win in Ridgecrest as they defeated Cerro Coso 80-75.

The Eagles built a lead of 12 by halftime on Saturday afternoon as they finished the opening stanza on a 14-4 run.  In the second half MSJC held off a Cerro Coso team who entered the game with just one loss on the season.  The game was within four points on five different occasions, but the Eagles held off their opponent each time to close out the win.

Jamaal Barnes led the way for the MSJC offense with a game high 28 points.  Jernard Jackson followed with 21 for MSJC as he also grabbed 6 rebounds and dished out 3 assists.  Chidi Okwarabizie just missed a double double for the Eagles as he hauled in a game high 13 rebounds and scored 9 points.  Danilo Da Silva also added 9 points off the bench.

The win improved the Eagles overall record on the year to 7-8, they are 3-0 in the IEAC while Cerro Coso fell to 12-2 overall and 2-1 in the league.  MSJC will be back in action on Wednesday when they host Victor Valley College as part of a men's and women's doubleheader against Victor Valley.  Game times on Wednesday are 5 pm for the women and 7 pm for the men.