The Irvine Valley men's basketball team begins hosting its Spectrum Bank Classic Thursday afternoon.
Four games will be played on both Thursday and Friday and three games are slated for Saturday. The championship game is at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
The Lasers will be going after their first tournament title in the event since 2001.
Irvine Valley, which has a record of 2-0 on the season, opens play on Thursday against Santa Monica at 6 p.m.
Other Thursday games are Long Beach City against Canyons at 2 p.m., Imperial Valley against Ventura at 4 p.m. and defending tournament champion Cuyamaca against Cerritos at 8 p.m.
Irvine Valley is ranked eighth in the first California Community College Men's Basketball Coaches Association Poll of the season. It's the highest ranking in program history for the team.
Ventura, which won the IVC tournament title two years ago, is ranked 19th in the poll.
"We can do well," Irvine Valley Coach Jerry Hernandez said. "Winning is going to be tough. Imperial Valley and Ventura are very good. Santa Monica, who we open with, is going to be a challenge. They change defenses, are very quick and can really shoot the ball from the perimeter."
Nov. 15 Schedule
First round games
Long Beach City vs. Canyons - 2 p.m.
Imperial Valley vs. Ventura - 4 p.m.
Irvine Valley vs. Santa Monica - 6 p.m.
Cuyamaca vs. Cerritos - 8 p.m.
Nov. 16 Schedule
Second day games
consolation semis - 1 p.m.
consolation semis - 3 p.m.
championship semis - 5 p.m.
championship semis - 7 p.m.
Nov. 17 Schedule
Final day games
consolation final - 12 p.m.
third-place game - 2 p.m.
championship final - 4 p.m.