The MSJC men's basketball team got off to a slow start on Saturday and never recovered as they fell to Ventura 81-56 on the final day of the RCC Holiday Classic.

The Eagles made just 12 of 35 shots and 1 of 9 from long range in the first half as they fell behind 47-30 at the break.  Their shooting woes continued in the second half and they could never quite make a run at the Pirates and lost for the first time in their last 9 games.

BJ Brown and Kyle Render were the only two Eagles to make it to double digits in scoring as Brown finished with 13 and Render with 12.  Dasean Stevens and Elijah Shirley tied for team high honors with 5 rebounds a piece while Stevens also had a team best 4 assists.

The Eagles fell to 8-2 on the season with the loss and will open Inland Empire Athletic Conference play this week when they take on Cerro Coso and Victor Valley.  Wednesday night the Eagles host Cerro Coso at 7 pm, and Saturday MSJC will play Victor Valley.  Saturday's game will tip-off at 3 pm with the location to be announced on Monday.