Freshman forward Anthony Simone scored 28 points and Michael Kalu added 23 more, but the Cougars could not hold off L.A. Pierce College in a 100-96 thriller on Saturday night.

Canyons (9-11, 0-1) entered the Western State Conference, South Division opener as winners of three straight and may have played good enough to win a fourth. However, the Cougars committed 21 turnovers in the game and saw the Brahmas convert 29-of-37 free throws while committing seven fewer turnovers, which proved to be the difference.

By comparison, COC was just 14-of-20 from the charity stripe. The Cougars shot a combined 50 percent from the floor and saw four players score in double digits.

Simone led the charge on Saturday, adding eight rebounds and three blocks on a 10-of-14 shooting night.

Frankie Campbell was also a force for the Cougars, adding 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the losing effort, while Samuel Robert scored 12 points off the bench.

Kalu notched five three-pointers on the night to help pace a Cougars offense that has scored 90 or more points in three of its last four contests, after reaching that plateau just one in the previous 16 games. Canyons scored a season-high 106 points vs. Oxnard College in the season opener.

In a back-and-forth game that provided lots of highlights, the Cougars headed into halftime trailing 51-49 with a 5-0 run to close out the opening period.

Canyons was then able to open up a brief 56-51 lead three minutes into the second half on a pair of free throws by Simone. After falling behind 57-56, COC charged back again with a 6-0 run that put the Cougs ahead by five at 62-57.

That frenzied pace continued throughout until the Brahmas were able to eventually seal the victory with a pair of free throws that put Pierce ahead by four points with just six seconds left on the clock.

Omri Altit was able to get off a final three-pointer or the Cougars as time expired, but COC ended the game by coming up just short.

Pierce forward Chance Cole scored a game-high 33 points including a perfect 14-of-14 mark from the line. Guard Jordan Newt also scored 22 points to help provide an offensive spark for the Brahmas.

Here’s the box score.

With just seven regular-season games remaining, Canyons will next host Santa Monica College at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, in the Cougar Cage.

Stay up to date on all this season’s action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

— Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information