RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Occidental College (6-0, 1-0) defeated La Sierra University (7-6, 0-3) with an 80-51 victory on Wednesday night. Occidental established a commanding lead with a 35-point advantage by the 5:08 mark in the second half. The team capitalized on La Sierra's 19 turnovers, scoring 28 points off turnovers, while their bench contributed 35 points.
Occidental opened the first half with a strong start, establishing an early 7–0 lead within the first two minutes, highlighted by
Nasir Luna's 3-pointer and jumper. The Tigers maintained their momentum with effective scoring, reaching a substantial 18-point advantage at the 3:34 mark, bolstered by
Alex McCleery Brown's jumper. Throughout the half, Occidental capitalized on La Sierra's turnovers, recording 10 steals and converting them into points, while also controlling the boards with an 18–13 rebounding edge. The half concluded with Occidental leading 42–29.
Occidental extended its lead significantly in the second half, starting with a jumper by
Ethan Hanning at 19:40. This set the tone for a dominant stretch, with the team capitalizing on turnovers and strong rebounding.
Nicky Clotfelter contributed with multiple baskets, and
Perry Rainey added crucial points, including a three-pointer at 6:43. By maintaining defensive pressure, they held La Sierra to limited scoring opportunities, finishing the half with a 38-point contribution to lead 79–51. The game concluded with Occidental securing a decisive victory, 80–51.
Hanning recorded eight steals and scored eight points, showcasing a strong defensive presence. Luna posted 13 points and dished out five assists, contributing significantly to the team's offense. Brown tallied 12 points while collecting six rebounds, demonstrating efficiency on the court. Clotfelter added 10 points, shooting 5-for-7 from the field, and also registered two steals.
Occidental Top Performers
Alex McCleery Brown
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- 12 points
- 6/10 field goals made
- 6 rebounds
- 1 block
Nasir Luna
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- 13 points
- 6/11 field goals made
- 5 assists
Ethan Hanning
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- 8 points
- 8 steals
- 4 rebounds
Nicky Clotfelter
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- 10 points
- 5/7 field goals made
- 2 steals
Chase Miller
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- 8 points
- 4/4 field goals made
- 5 rebounds
The Tigers remain undefeated on the season with a 6-0 overall record. Their next game will come in the D3Hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas, NV when the Tigers take on Central College on December 29th at 8:00pm.
