Cougars Close Out 2025 with Tough Road Tests Against Ohlone and San Mateo

The Lassen College men’s basketball team wrapped up its final two non-conference contests of 2025 with matchups against Ohlone College and College of San Mateo on back-to-back days, December 30 and 31.

On December 30, the Cougars fell to Ohlone 72-53 in a game that remained competitive through the opening half. Lassen trailed just 37-33 at the break after a strong offensive showing from sophomore guard DeCarlo Browne, who led the Cougars with 14 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Isaiah Lassiter added 11 rebounds and seven points, while McKay Robert chipped in eight points and five boards. Sam Hogmalm contributed seven points and four rebounds. Despite shooting 38.3% from the field, Lassen struggled from beyond the arc (2-for-18) and the free throw line (5-for-13). Ohlone pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Cougars 35-20 behind balanced scoring and strong interior play, finishing with a 41-35 rebounding advantage.

Less than 24 hours later, Lassen faced a tough road challenge at San Mateo, falling 70-42. The Cougars were down 31-20 at halftime before San Mateo’s hot shooting in the second half widened the gap. San Mateo shot 50% from the field and knocked down 13 three-pointers at a 46.4% clip. Browne once again paced Lassen with 14 points and added 10 rebounds for a double-double effort. Jailen Childress provided a spark off the bench with five points, while Isaiah Garcia and Malachi Green each added six and five points respectively. Lassen shot 34.8% from the field and committed 18 turnovers in the contest, which proved costly against an efficient San Mateo offense.

While the results did not fall in the Cougars’ favor, the two-game stretch provided valuable experience heading into the heart of conference play. Lassen will look to build on Browne’s consistent scoring, Lassiter’s presence on the glass, and continued defensive effort as they turn their focus toward Golden Valley Conference competition.