Sierra Defeats Sacramento City 75-73 on January 17, 2025

Sierra pulled off a thrilling 75-73 victory over Sacramento City on January 17, 2025, in a back-and-forth game at Jessup University. Despite leading by 7 points at halftime, the Panthers couldn't hold off a late charge from Sierra, who outscored them 42-33 in the second half to steal the win.

First Half: Sacramento City Takes Control
Sacramento City dominated the first half, building a 40-33 lead at the break. Sidney Duplessis led the way for the Panthers with 17 points, while Exander Irving-Romero contributed 13 points on 5-7 shooting. The Panthers shot 44.6% from the field in the first half, and despite struggling with three-point shooting (2-8), they were able to capitalize on Sierra's 16 turnovers and control the tempo.

Sierra, on the other hand, had difficulty finding consistent offense in the first half. Garret Dutro led the way with 10 points, but the team as a whole shot just 42.2% from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc. Anthony Carson added 8 points, but Sierra struggled to match Sacramento City's efficiency.

Second Half: Sierra Surges for the Win
Sierra came out of halftime with a renewed sense of urgency, quickly closing the gap and eventually overtaking the Panthers in the final moments. Garret Dutro continued to be a force, finishing with 23 points, including a perfect 8-10 from the free-throw line. Dontrell Johnson also stepped up with 15 points and 8 rebounds, while Cam Frazier contributed 10 points and 8 rebounds.

Despite a late push from Sacramento City, where Duplessis finished with 17 points and Aaron Gillyard added 16 points, the Panthers couldn't make key shots down the stretch. The team shot just 30.4% from three-point range and struggled with free throws, hitting only 47.1% from the line (8-17).

In contrast, Sierra capitalized at the charity stripe, making 17-23 free throws (73.9%), which played a critical role in their comeback. The Bearcats' 13 assists and solid rebounding (45 total, including 15 offensive) helped them overcome a slow start and secure the victory.

Key Performances
Sacramento City:

• Sidney Duplessis: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
• Exander Irving-Romero: 13 points
• Aaron Gillyard: 16 points, 4 rebounds
• Jayden Ferreira: 14 points, 2 assists
• Drew McClendon: 3 points

Sierra:

• Garret Dutro: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
• Dontrell Johnson: 15 points, 8 rebounds
• Cam Frazier: 10 points, 8 rebounds
• Anthony Carson: 13 points, 5 rebounds
• Jose Vazquez: 6 points, 11 rebounds

Team Stats
Sacramento City:

• 29-65 (44.6% FG), 7-23 (30.4% 3P), 8-17 (47.1% FT)

Sierra:

• 27-64 (42.2% FG), 4-15 (26.7% 3P), 17-23 (73.9% FT)