GORDEN LEADS KNIGHTS IN OPENING WEEKEND

HAYWARD, Calif. – The Shasta College men's basketball team won two out of three at the 53rd annual Gladiator Classic Tournament at Chabot College last week to open the season.

The Knights lost to host Chabot 66-64 in the opener before beating Ohlone College 63-61 and taking down Reedley 73-65.

Sophomore Derek Gorden averaged 25.7 points and eight rebounds per game on the week to pace the Knights, who also shot 82.6 percent from the free throw line across the three games.

Chabot 66, Shasta 64
The Knights led 30-29 at half. Shasta was outrebounded 38-22 but won the turnover battle (9-6) and had better shooting percentages from 3-point range (12-for-30, 40%) and from the free throw line (10-of-12, 83%). Gorden led the Knights in scoring and rebounding with 23 points and five boards and Samer Khalil was the only other Shasta player in double figures with 11 points and four assists.

Shasta 63, Ohlone 61
Shasta outscored Ohlone 40-35 to pull out the two-point victory. The Knights hit all 15 free throw attempts in the game with Gorden, Khalil and Josiah Palumbo each going 4-for-4 from the line. Gorden dropped 24 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for a double-double. Shasta had nine players score in the game and got 26 points from its bench, eight each from Palumbo and Bekdoo Lewis. Khalil added six assists.

Shasta 73, Reedley 65
The Knights led 36-25 at half and hung on to win. Gorden dropped 30 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds while Khalil scored 21 points. Simmer Singh dished a team-best five assists and Konnor Gerig had three steals.

Shasta (2-1) plays at the George Goto Classic at Sierra College Thursday and Friday this week.