College of the Desert Men’s Basketball secured a narrow 67-66 victory over San Diego Mesa in their home opener on November 4, 2026. This win marked College of the Desert’s first triumph against San Diego Mesa since 2019, improving their record to 2-1 while San Diego Mesa fell to 0-2.
Sophomore guard Payton Joseph led the Roadrunners with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. He also contributed nine rebounds and three steals, serving as the team’s top scorer and rebounder on the night.
Freshman forward Dariel Bahamontes added 12 points, seven rebounds, a season-high five assists, and two blocked shots. Freshman guard Derek Ledezma contributed 11 points, including two made three-pointers, helping the team maintain its lead.
Despite being outrebounded 56 to 38 and out-assisted 23 to 19, College of the Desert committed fewer turnovers (11 compared to San Diego Mesa’s 16), a factor in their close win. The bench also played a key role, providing 20 points, with Kyle Lowery leading reserves with eight points.
The Roadrunners will next play on the road before returning home to face El Camino on Friday, November 13, at 5 p.m.
CSB Take
College of the Desert Men’s Basketball delivered a clutch performance in their home opener, overcoming statistical disadvantages in rebounds and assists through lower turnovers and balanced scoring. Payton Joseph’s all-around impact as both top scorer and rebounder highlights his importance to the squad. Dynamic freshmen like Dariel Bahamontes and Derek Ledezma contribute significantly as well, suggesting a solid foundation for the season. Maintaining composure to close such a tight game bodes well for their competitiveness moving forward.
Source: Original report
More coverage: College of the Desert.
