January 24, 2026 | Fresno
Reedley College survived a tense finish on the road Saturday afternoon, holding off Fresno for a 70–68 victory in a tightly contested Central Valley Conference men's basketball matchup.
The Tigers and Rams were deadlocked at halftime, 35–35, setting the stage for a back-and-forth second half that featured multiple lead changes and clutch play on both ends of the floor. Reedley ultimately made just enough plays late to escape with the two-point win.
Nassef Lubowa led all scorers with 18 points while stuffing the stat sheet with seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Despite a tough shooting night from the field, Lubowa was perfect at the free-throw line, knocking down all seven attempts—an effort that proved critical in a game decided by just two points.
Luke Machnik provided a major spark offensively, finishing with 15 points on an efficient 5-for-6 shooting performance, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. CJ Kornegay Jr. added a strong all-around performance with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, anchoring the Tigers inside.
Reedley's balance was evident throughout the lineup. Kevin Chambers chipped in 11 points and five assists, while the bench made timely contributions, led by Lucean Milligan (7 points) and Devon Marshall, who tallied six points, five rebounds, and five assists.
The Tigers shot 42.6 percent from the field and an impressive 41.7 percent from three-point range, but the difference came at the free-throw line. Reedley was flawless, converting all 19 of its free-throw attempts, helping offset 20 turnovers in the physical conference battle.
Fresno stayed within striking distance until the final horn, but Reedley's composure in the closing moments sealed the win and marked an important road victory in early CVC play.
With the 70–68 triumph, Reedley continues to build momentum in conference action, showing resilience, balance, and the ability to execute when the margin for error is razor thin.
With the win, Reedley improved its early standing within the 3C2A Central Valley Conference, picking up a valuable road victory that could loom large as conference play tightens. The Tigers will look to carry that momentum into a challenging stretch of upcoming games, including a return home for their next conference matchup before hitting the road again later in the week. As league play unfolds, Reedley's ability to win close games away from home positions the Tigers well in the CVC race as they continue to build toward postseason contention.
UP NEXT
The Tigers have three more games on the road vs. Merced, Lemoore, and COS before returning to Reedley on Saturday, February 7th vs Columbia College at 3pm. The excitement is building for the Tigers!!