The Cougars hosted Los Angeles Pierce for their final home game of the 2025-26 season and in a brief pre-game ceremony the recognized their four sophomores.  The Cougars recognized Aiden Pearsall-Morgan and Griffyn Kapao, who both played at other colleges before joining the Cuesta program, and returners Corbin Rossi, a 2025 all-WSC selection, and Ryan McNamee.  In a curious turn of events, Pierce's roster also contained three of Rossi and McNamee's former teammates- Tom Hinson, Matvey Krepak and all-WSC Guard Nikolai Stanic.  Once the game began, old connections were set aside and the players got into the action.  The Brahmas jumped out early and controlled most of the first half, but Jakai Tutler's basket with just eight ticks left on the clock sent the Cougars into the break with a tenuous one-point lead, 33-32.  The two teams continued to trade the advantage all through the second half, but when it got into "crunch time" Kapao and Pearsall-Morgan stepped and knocked down seven straight free throws to seal the victory, 71-66.  The lost bumped the Cougars into double-digits in the win column at 10-17 on the season, while also moving their Western State Conference record to 5-6. 

 

The Cougars shall complete their first season under Coach Jamoni Barber at Santa Barbara City this Saturday (5 PM).