No. 25 Palomar Stuns No. 9 Santiago Canyon on the Road, 99–96

ORANGE, CA (12/2/2025) -- The Comets picked up their biggest win of the season on Tuesday night, knocking off No. 9 Santiago Canyon College on the road in a 99–96 shootout that showcased Palomar's firepower, resilience, and late-game poise.

Down 10 at halftime, the Comets flipped the script in the second half, outscoring the Hawks 53–40 and taking control behind a balanced offensive attack that saw six players score five or more.

Isaiah Pomare delivered a statement performance, finishing with 26 points and nine rebounds while shooting 12-for-17 from the field. Angel Ochoa matched the moment with 22 points, seven boards, and four assists, including several clutch buckets to fuel the comeback.

Drew Pierce caught fire from deep, hitting four threes on his way to 17 points, and Benjie Nudo added 16 points off the bench while going 7-for-10 from the floor. Jaidyn Norman chipped in 13 points, knocking down three triples of his own.

The Comets shot 57.1% from the field and a blistering 50% from beyond the arc—their best perimeter performance of the year—while holding Santiago Canyon to just nine made threes in the second half after a hot start.

With the win, Palomar improves to 5–3 and carries major momentum into tournament play.

Next up: the Comets will face Moorpark College on Friday at 8 p.m. in the opening round of the Grossmont College Invitational, meeting the Raiders for the second time this season.