Saddleback Seeded No. 1 in State Finals

The Saddleback College men’s basketball team, which has won 27 consecutive games, is the top-seeded team in the community college state tournament, which begins today at University of the Pacific in Stockton.

Saddleback (32-2), seeking its first state championship in any sport since the men’s golf team won in 1996, plays Diablo Valley (26-9) in the first round at 8 tonight.

If they win, the Gauchos will play either L.A. Southwest or American River in the semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday. The championship game is scheduled Saturday at 8.

Led by Mark Brown, the Orange Empire Conference’s most valuable player who averaged 11.5 points and five assists, the Gauchos have made the state tournament for the first time since 1996, when a team led by current Miami Heat guard Anthony Carter lost in the first round.

Saddleback, which has not lost since Nov. 30, defeated Mt. San Antonio, Mt. San Jacinto and Ventura in the Southern California Regional to reach the state tournament. The Gauchos have averaged 84.3 points in the playoffs after averaging 76.8 in the regular season.

Forward Adrian Aguay leads the team with a 14.2 points-per-game average. Mike Donegan (10.2) and Rahshaw McAfee (11.0) also average in double figures. A victory for the Gauchos tonight would be the 400th in 618 games for Coach Bill Brummel.