LOS ANGELES — Occidental (8-1, 1-0 SCIAC) secured a 69-58 victory over East Tex. Baptist (3-11, 0-0 ASC) at Rush Gymnasium on Thursday. The home team dominated in the paint with 42 points, while also recording 10 blocks. The Tigers were kept at bay in a game that saw both teams tied once, but the home team never relinquished control.
Occidental took the court with intensity, opening the half with a dunk by
Alex McCleery Brown, assisted by
Nicky Clotfelter. The team capitalized on fast breaks and paint points, leading to an early advantage. Clotfelter contributed significantly from the free-throw line, helping to maintain momentum.
Throughout the first half, Occidental showcased strong defensive plays, including multiple blocks and defensive rebounds, which limited the Tigers' scoring opportunities.
Perry Rainey and
Micah Breaux added key scoring drives, extending the home team's lead.
Occidental closed the half with a solid defensive stance, preventing a late surge from East Texas Baptist and ending the first half ahead, 34–25.
Occidental began the second half with a strong offensive showing, marked by McCleery Brown's jumper at 19:41, assisted by Clotfelter. This play set the tone for Occidental's continued momentum, as they capitalized on scoring opportunities in the paint, contributing significantly to their 22 points in that area for the half.
Occidental's defense was pivotal, with Clotfelter recording a block at 15:34, mitigating the Tigers' attempts to close the gap. The team also excelled in ball distribution, recording 12 assists throughout the half, allowing for effective offensive plays.
The half closed with a jumper from McCleery Brown at 1:10, maintaining Occidental's lead. Despite the Tigers' late 3-pointer, Occidental finished the half ahead, 69–58.
Occidental opened the first half with an early lead, highlighted by McCleery Brown's dunk assisted by Clotfelter at 19:55. Brown continued to impact the game with a tip-in at 19:07, contributing to a 4-2 advantage. The home team maintained control, with Clotfelter adding points from the free-throw line and a fastbreak dunk, extending the lead. Rainey hit a crucial jumper at 5:21, assisted by
Atticus Boba, pushing the score to 28-19. Despite a final layup from East Texas Baptist's Jack Pease with two seconds left, Occidental ended the half with a 34-25 lead.
Occidental extended their lead in the second half, sparked by McCleery Brown's consistent scoring. McCleery Brown contributed significantly, including a layup at the 15:52 mark, pushing the home team's score to 46. Clotfelter also added to the scoreboard with a layup at 7:36 and provided several assists. Despite a late effort from the Tigers, including a 3-pointer by Silas Smith with 17 seconds remaining, Occidental maintained control to secure a 69-58 victory.
Occidental Top Performers
Alex McCleery Brown
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- 26 points
- 13/21 field goals made
- 6 rebounds
Nicky Clotfelter
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- 13 points
- 7 blocks
- 11 rebounds
- 5 assists
Atticus Boba
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- 4 points
- 5 assists
- 6 rebounds
Occidental improved to 8-1 overall and 1-0 in SCIAC play following their victory. The Tigers are now 3-11 for the season.
Looking ahead, Occidental will host Whittier on Saturday, Jan. 3 in Los Angeles, California. The game is set to begin at 2 p.m.
