LANCASTER, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2009) – After the opening the
season with an exhibition versus a Division I school and a
competitive game against an NAIA scholarship school, the Occidental
College Tigers earned their first win of the young 2009-10 season
behind a 32-point showing from Huston Conti as Oxy
earned an 85-66 victory over West Coast Baptist College tonight.
The Tigers opened up a 43-35 half-time lead behind a 57% field
goal percentage, shooting 16-for-28, which included four
three's and a perfect free-throw percentage (7-for-7). In the
second half the shooting was also impressive as the Tigers finished
with a cumulative field goal percentage of 55 as they outscored the
Golden Eagles 42-31.
Conti led all players with 32 points hitting three from long
range, adding an 11-for-13 performance at the charity stripe. He
also dished out seven assists for the Tigers. In addition to the
offensive output, the senior guard finished with a game-high five
steals and added seven rebounds (three offensive).
Also reaching double figures tonight for Oxy were DeShun
McCoy, Jack Hanley and Eric Leider with
19, 13 and 10 points, respectively. McCoy poured in 19 on 8-for-11
shooting while Hanley was 4-for-7 from the field and 4-for-5 from
the line. Leider hit both three-point shots he took in the game and
was responsible for five assists. .
Senior forward Sean Anderson led all players
with 13 rebounds, followed by Leider who had eight. Anderson also
added four blocks while McCoy was credited with a pair. Overall Oxy
pulled down 41 rebounds to West Coast Baptist's 31.
The Golden Eagles had four players with 10 or more points, led
by Ryan Holmes with 14. WCBC was solid at the stripe tonight,
shooting 92%, but hit on only 33% of its shots from the field.
Occidental returns to Rush Gymnasium on Tuesday for the season
home opener against the American Sports Institution. Teams are set
to tip-off at 5:00 p.m. as a pre-curser to the women's game
against Chapman at 7:30 p.m.