The Moorpark Raiders’ were returning home after a two game road trip to take on the L.A. Pierce Brahma Bulls. The Raiders were looking to bounce back from a two game skid on the road, and win at home. The Raiders fell short in a close 76-73 loss to the Bulls.

Moorpark and Pierce were even for most of the first half. It wasn’t until in the middle of the first period where Pierce went on a big run taking the early advantage. Moorpark to close out the first half went on a run on their own which ended with forward Spencer Smith’s buzzer beating three point shot which gave Moorpark the 35-31 lead at halftime.

“It was a game of runs they (Pierce) would go on then we would go on runs;not one team seemed to take over,” said Moorpark College Athletic Director Howard Davis.

The game was close the whole time; neither side looked like they had the advantage. The game came all the way to the wire as Moorpark had an opportunity to get the lead. Center Austin Howell had a chance at the game leading shot, but missed. Spencer Smith, though, corralled the rebound, and took a tough shot for the lead, but missed. A Pierce defender managed to grab the board and pass it to his teammate who broke away for a lay up, ending the game for Moorpark.

“You know it was a tough shot by Spencer,” said Guard Shaquille Moore. “Sometimes the shot falls, and sometimes they don’t.”

Moore leaded the Raiders in scoring with 23 points, and added eight rebounds with four assists on the night. Guard JR Powell had 12 points and hit a perfect 100 percent beyond the arc. Forward Stephen Saska came off the bench for the Raiders and scored 10 points for Moorpark.

“We just got to get back to practice and keeping improving every single day,” said Moore.

Moorpark is now 4-4 in Western State Conference play, but are still in the being only two games behind first place. Moorpark will travel to Santa Barbara city college next to take on the Vaqeuros this Saturday at seven p.m.