LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2008) – Hundreds of Oxy students came out to support the Tigers in their first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference home game since school has been back in session. The “Black Hole” got the crowd fired up and that energy in the Rush Gymnasium stands trickled onto the court where the Tigers continued their winning ways with a 79-62 victory over Whittier College.

Oxy, who leads the league in shooting percentage, three-point field goal percentage and free-throw percentage put up more bug numbers tonight. The Tigers combined to shoot 59.6 percent from the field, going 7-for-12 from long range (58.3%) while adding another solid performance at the line making 88.9% of their attempts tonight (16-for-18).

Occidental jumped out to a 37-26 lead at the mid-way mark behind 10 points from Huston Conti and nine from Chris Hunt, who got things started with a three-pointer on the first attempt of the game.

Oxy got up 12-5, but the Poets battled through the first half, pulling within four just over two minutes before the break when Whittier junior Jeff McLean knocked down a bucket and finished off the play with a free-throw after being fouled. Conti went on to make back to back baskets, following Hunt rebounds, to close out the half.

The Poets chipped away, pulling the score within two at 43-41 and 45-43 with 15:49 and 14:34 remaining in regulation, respectively, but that was as close as it would get tonight.

Occidental used a 11-0 run, which showcased a pair of Connor Whitman's five three-pointers in the game, to open up a 63-48 lead and never looked back. Gemayal McBride made a free-throw to give the Tigers a 10 point lead (58-48). Oxy held on to that double-figure lead for the remainder of the contest.

Whitman, who was named SCIAC Athlete of the Week for his performances against Pomona-Pitzer and Cal Lutheran, again led the pack with a 23-point performance, 17 coming in the second half, on 5-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc and another solid night.

Sophomore Sean Anderson recorded his third double-double of the season, the first of his SCIAC career, with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Along with his first dunk of the season, Anderson shot 7-for-7 from the line in the win.

The Tigers were dominant on the glass, pulling down 36 rebounds, while the Poets managed to grab just 19. Occidental turned eight offensive boards into 16 points.

Whitman and McBride tallied six rebounds apiece tonight.

Also recording double figures in the game were Conti, who turned in 18 during another impressive contest, and Hunt who finished with 14.

Chris Pitcher led all players with four assists and Gyan Alexander, Whitman and McBride each dished out three assists, while Alexander recorded the only block on the night for Oxy.

If anything hurt the Tigers tonight, it was 16 turnovers, which led to 15 Whittier points. The Poets lost possession just 10 times in the game.

Whittier's Urriahn Barragan and McLean scored 13 points apiece to lead the squad. McLean added a pair of both blocks and assists.

With the win Oxy improves to 15-2 overall and maintains sole possession of the SCIAC lead with a 5-1 record. Whittier drops to 9-8, 2-4 SCIAC.

Saturday will mark the final game of the first half of SCIAC play when the Tigers host the University of La Verne (8-9, 2-4), who fell tonight to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps by a 68-55 margin. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game against ULV at 5:00 p.m. in Rush Gymnasium.