Men's Basketball hosted #17 West Hills-Lemoore for its 2022-23 season opener and knocked off the 17th-ranked Golden Eagles, 85-77.  The two teams battle back and forth all game and, while Lemoore held a seven-point lead at the intermission, it was Cuesta that closed the game strong.  The Cougars did not overcome the Golden Eagles halftime advantage until the final four minutes of the game and kept pushing until the final buzzer.  Freshmen Mason Romano (pict) and Aaron Russell (pict) both enjoyed big games in their college debut to lead Cuesta.  Romano led all scorers with 31 points, while adding seven rebounds and picking up seven steals on defense, and Russell scored 20 points, while also assisting his teammates on six scores and adding five more steals on defense.  Freshman Guard Drew Ardouin also enjoyed a stellar debut with 13 points and five rebounds. The Cougars, 1-0, to start their season

Cuesta plays at West Hills-Coalinga next Tuesday (6 PM).  They also host the Hinson's Tire Pros Tournament next Friday and Saturday, November 11-12.