LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Jan. 2, 2008)
– In day one of the Oxy-Pomona-Pitzer
Holiday Classic both sponsoring teams recorded victories as
Pomona-Pitzer defeated St. Scholastica 62-46 in the tournament
opener before the Tigers outscored the Chapman Panthers 69-45 in
the second game of the day at Rush Gymnasium on the campus of
Occidental College.
Number 25 ranked Occidental College (9-1)
extended its win streak to eight games as they maintained a double
figure lead throughout the majority of the second half. The Tigers
took a 32-21 lead at the break and came back to shoot 57.1% from
the field in the final period of play.
For the second straight game Oxy's
offense shot 51% from the field overall. Senior guard
Connor Whitman was the top scorer in the game with
20 points. Classmate Chris Pitcher was also in
double figures with 10, including the first six Tigers points of
the game. Pitcher and Gemayal McBride each handed
out five assists in the game.
Occidental forced 20 turnovers that led to 25
points. The Tigers also out-rebounded the Panthers 30-24, including
eight offensive boards, which ended with 10 second chance points.
Sean Anderson led the Tigers with nine rebounds,
while Pitcher grabbed eight.
Whitman also added a game high five steals for
the Tigers.
Chapman (8-5) shot 41% from the field. The
Panthers were led by a 15 point performance by Kyle Wood.
Chapman's Dan Aguilar led all players with 11 rebounds. Each
Panthers player stole the ball twice as well.
In the first game of the day The Sagehens used
a 12-0 run with 6:29 to play to take a lead they would not
surrender for the remainder of the game. Pomona-Pitzer jumped out
to a 32-20 halftime lead.
Jabarri Reynolds guided Pomona-Pitzer (4-5) to
victory with 18 points. Justin Sexon added 14 in 26 minutes of
action while grabbing a game high eight rebounds.
The Sagehens shot 51% from the field while the
Saints shot just 36%. Pomona-Pitzer also had the edge rebounding by
a 31-24 margin. PP grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, which led to 15
second chance points.
For St. Scholastica (3-7) Brady Zubke had a
team leading eight points with six rebounds. Eric Langdon also
finished with six boards for the Saints.
Teams will reconvene tomorrow with the first
game between Chapman and Pomona-Pitzer beginning
at 5:00 p.m. before Oxy and St. Scholastica tip off in the
tournament finale at 7:00 p.m.
