Los Angeles, CA — Occidental's men's basketball team was in action on Wednesday night against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens. 

The Sagehens were able to start the game strong with a 9-2 offensive run in the first 4 minutes of the game before Henry Wilson stopped the run with a made jumper. The Pomona-Pitzer lead was up to 10 points when Jacob Hamermesh knocked down a jumper to cut into the lead. 

The Tigers would really make a push with a 10-0 run on offense that was started by excellent ball movement and cuts to the basket followed by beautiful passes leading to easy layups in the paint. After the Oxy run made the score 21-20 Sagehens, Pomona also put a run together to get the lead up to 28-20.

Nicky Clotfelter caught fire for the Tigers and scored 8 straight Oxy points including a 3-pointer that had the Pomona-Pitzer lead back down to 4 points. Andrew Waldman knocked down a 3-pointer on the next Oxy possession and the TIgers were within a point of the lead.

Jacob Koretz would make a 3-pointer and then make a jumper that gave Oxy a 36-35 that the Tigers would take into the halftime break. The game was tightly contested to begin the 2nd half and Koretz would knock down another 3-pointer to give Oxy a lead before Aiden Williams also made a 3 that had Oxy up 47-43.

Neither team was able to put the other away, as Pomona-Pitzer grabbed a 7 point lead with 8 minutes to go but Oxy immediately cut it down to 3 points on the next two possessions. Oxy was within 1 point of the lead after Andrew Waldman made two free throws with 5 minutes left. 

The Sagehens had their lead back up to 5 points with a made 3-pointer before Nicky Clotfelter immediately responded with a 3-pointer to get the score back to a 2 point game at 67-65. Pomona responded with a made jumper and Jacob Koretz had a good look at a 3-pointer to respond but the ball rattled just in and out of the basket. 

Oxy was forced to foul on the next possession and Pomona would make their free throws to secure the win. The final score of the game was 72-67 and despite the loss Oxy is still in the mix for the 4th spot in the SCIAC that would secure a trip to the SCIAC tournament. 

The Tigers will next play against Colorado College on Saturday, January 20th at 4pm in Rush Gymnasium.