Six players scored in double figures as the Ventura College men's basketball team opened up the fourth annual Roy Gilmore Invitational with a 102-77 win over College of the Desert.

But it was the one who scored his first four points of the season, all on free throws, who got the biggest ovation Friday night at the VC Athletic Event Center.

For the third time in a year, guard Danny Benson returned from a broken foot. It was enough to prompt a celebration Friday morning at the Ventura house some of the players share.

"When we woke up this morning, it was crazy," said forward Tavaris Gilbert. "Because we knew he was back."

Freshman Kevin Menner scored 21 points, Gilbert had 14 points and Dee Pinkard had 11 points. Brandon Dixon, Angelo Whitehead and Robert Wright added 10 apiece.

Freshman Derick Bell hit a 3-pointer with less than three seconds left as Ventura (1), ranked No. 9 in Southern California, broke triple digits for the second time this season.

Ventura has played 48 games since Benson arrived from Pensacola, Fla., last fall. He has played in just 20 of them, missing last year's 12-game conference season, last year's two state tournament games and the first 13 games this year.

"The worst one was working hard all summer and not being able to start my sophomore season," said Benson, who broke his left foot two days before the start of the season.

Ventura (1) will face Santa Ana, which eliminated the Pirates in the tournament's first round a year ago, in a semifinal tonight at 7.

"There's a revenge factor," said Ventura coach Greg Winslow.

The Dons beat Imperial Valley, 68-63, behind 27 points from Tyre Thompson.

Thompson and Menner sit third and fourth in the state in scoring.

No. 2 Fullerton (11-2) and No. 7 Mount San Jacinto (13-1) pose a sparkling matchup in the other semifinal at 5.

"It should be a good one," said Winslow.

Fullerton slipped by West Los Angeles, 66-64, and Mount San Jacinto beat Hancock, 81-65.

Ventura College women's soccer coach Steve Hoffman was recognized before the game for his 200th win, which came Sept. 18 against Los Angeles Valley.

Winslow won his 200th game for Ventura on Nov. 24 in Oxnard, 94-86, against Los Angeles Southwest.

Ventura had won seven of eight games. Desert had won six of seven games. Benson started for the first time since last year's regional final win over Riverside.

"I had zero expectations for Danny, although I knew he'd play with a lot of energy," said Winslow. "Nervous energy."

Wright hit 3-pointers from each wing in the final minute of the first half to give the Pirates a 43-27 halftime lead.

"We're happy to have Danny back," said Wright. "He's the leader on this team."

After being held to four points in the first half, Menner scored nine of Ventura's first 11 points in the second half.

His free throw with 15:45 to play extended the Pirates' lead to 54-39.

Although Menner, who was 7 of 14 from the free-throw line, was disappointed with his performance from the line.

"I missed a million, man," said Menner.

Up 20-17 midway through the first half, Ventura forged ahead by scoring eight of the next nine points to go up, 28-18. Pinkard splashed a trey and Prince Abidoye knocked in a jumper off the window to begin the spurt. Desert whittled it deficit to four points before Gilbert's 3-point play.