Men's Basketball: Pirates come up on losing end of high-scoring game at Merced

Freshman Malik McCowan tied a season-high with 34 points, but Porterville College closed out the 2016-17 season with a tough 104-97 loss in overtime at Merced College on Saturday night.

The Pirates end with a 10-17 overall record and finished Central Valley Conference play tied for fourth-place in the final standings at 7-7.

PC and Merced combined for 204 points as Porterville won 104-100 on Jan. 25 but it was the Blue Devils that came out on top in another 200+ point game.

Porterville trailed 44-39 at halftime before ending regulation all tied up at 88-88. But in overtime, Merced outscored the Pirates 16-9 to pull out the win.

McCowan scored 30+ points for the third time this season. He ends his first year as a Pirate averaging 17.5 points per game, good for fourth in the Central Valley Conference.

Darion Wilson scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Tevin Howell and Steven Ulloa both chipped in with 10 points each.