Once Leo Castaneda realized Boyd had no answer for the Irving College big man, the Tigers were all set.

The dominant Tiger post scored 18 points – 12 coming after halftime – as Irving College was able to outlast the Broncos 37-35 at home Monday night. The win improved the Tigers to 3-2 this season, while Boyd fell to 1-4

Boyd got 21 points from Gage Harris, who had a late chance to tie the game.

Irving College was nursing a four-point lead in the final 25 seconds, but the Tigers were swarmed by Boyd’s pressure. Harris was able to come up with a steal, leading to a layup with 10 seconds left that made it a two-point game.

The Tigers nearly turned the ball over again on the inbounds, but coach Tyler Morton was able to get a timeout called before a jumpball. 

Out of the timeout, Irving College had the ball on the sidelines with 3.9 seconds remaining. Harris again came from nowhere, notching a steal near his own baseline. He turned and fired a desperation shot, but it was off the mark and Irving College was able to escape with a win.

Castaneda made the victory possible. He dominated the paint defensively, swatting away shots when Boyd tried to penetrate. Offensively, Castaneda went to the block and threw up his hand.

Irving College fed the big man, who used his height advantage to score over the smaller Bronco defense. Casteneda’s second-half scoring onslaught featured one stretch where he scored eight straight points to give the Tigers a cushion.

Spencer Stubblefield added two clutch baskets in the final two minutes. Stubblefield secured a steal and swooped in for a score with two minutes left, then came back and drained a high-arching jumper on the next possession.

Irving College narrowly held on from there.

Matthew Roller added nine points in the Tiger win, while Irving College guard Trace Taylor scored four. Wesley Clendenon rounded out the scoring with two.

Connor Andrews joined Harris in double figures with 10 points for Boyd. Mason Westlake and Bryant Ralph finished with two points apiece.