LOS ANGELES, CA — Occidental (9-1, 2-0 SCIAC) narrowly defeated Whittier (5-4, 1-2 SCIAC) 71-70 on Saturday at Rush Gymnasium. After trailing by two at halftime, the Tigers surged in the second half, led by a balanced scoring effort that included 32 points in the paint. The Poets kept the game competitive by converting 15 free throws, but Occidental's defense secured the victory with crucial stops in the final minutes.
Occidental and Whittier engaged in a tightly contested first half, with both teams exchanging early baskets. Occidental initiated the scoring with
Alex McCleery Brown's jumper and continued to stay competitive by maintaining defensive pressure, resulting in 22 total rebounds. A key moment unfolded when
Peter Noble sank a 3-pointer at the 12:23 mark, giving Occidental a brief lead.
Occidental's offensive efforts were bolstered by McCleery Brown, who not only contributed with scoring but also dominated the boards with multiple rebounds. However, the Poets countered effectively, tying the game at various points. In a dramatic closing minute,
Nicky Clotfelter scored a crucial jumper with seven seconds left to tie the score at 32-32, but Whittier's Brandon Andrews responded with a jumper in the final second, concluding the half with Whittier leading 34-32.
The Tigers began the second half aggressively, with
Nasir Luna hitting a fast-break 3-pointer just seconds in to regain the lead.
Perry Rainey contributed with a layup, and a quick steal by Noble facilitated another offensive push. The team capitalized on their defensive efforts to extend their advantage, with multiple successful fast-break plays, including a 3-pointer by Noble at 18:10 and another by Rainey at 16:00, increasing the score gap.
Occidental maintained momentum midway through the half, with Clotfelter and
Micah Breaux adding points in the paint to widen the lead to 56–46. The team's defensive rebounding, highlighted by McCleery Brown's efforts, kept the opposition at bay, while
Henry Wilson's 3-pointer further solidified the lead at 59–46.
As the half progressed, Whittier attempted to close the gap with a series of successful free throws and field goals. However, key defensive rebounds by the Tigers, particularly by Luna and Noble, ensured that the Tigers retained control. Despite a late push by the Poets that saw them take the lead in the final moments,
Nasir Luna's clutch fadeaway jumper in the final seconds secured the lead with 2.6 seconds left in the game. The game ended with Occidental narrowly ahead as the Poets' half court heave as time expired did not fall.
Occidental Top Performers
Alex McCleery Brown
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- 12 points
- 16 rebounds
- 2 assists
Nasir Luna
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- 14 points
- 3 assists
- 1/1 free throws made
Nicky Clotfelter
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- 13 points
- 5 rebounds
- 6/10 field goals made
Henry Wilson
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- 9 points
- 3/3 three-pointers made
- 2 rebounds
The Tigers are now 9-1 overall and 2-0 in SCIAC play. Whittier holds a record of 5-4 overall and 1-2 in SCIAC competition.
Looking ahead, Occidental will host Grinnell on Monday, Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. in Los Angeles, California.
