LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Occidental (1-0) defeated Caltech (0-1) 76-62 on Saturday at Rush Gymnasium, highlighted by
Peter Noble scoring 15 straight Occidental points across halftime. Occidental finished with 42 points in the paint, 17 assists and a 36-30 rebounding edge.
Noble finished with 31 points and scored 15 consecutive Occidental points during a stretch in which the Tigers moved from a 29-22 lead to a 44-32 advantage. Oxy also had higher full-game shooting totals, making 32 of 65 from the field and 9 of 26 from 3-point range compared with Caltech's 23 of 53 and 4 of 15, while adding advantages in assists and rebounds.
Occidental's clearest separation came late in the first half, when
Atticus Boba and Noble combined for three triples between 6:00 and 4:26 to turn a 26-20 edge into a 35-26 lead. Noble added a jumper with 1:12 left, and Occidental went into halftime ahead 37-30.
Occidental opened the second half with Noble scoring seven points in the first 1:25, and
Austin Sheepo added a steal and fast-break dunk to move the score to 46-32. Occidental shot 16-for-30 in the half, including 5-for-11 from 3-point range, and Sheepo's 3-pointer made it 72-53 with 4:27 left. Occidental outscored Caltech 39-32 in the half and finished off a 76-62 win.
Noble scored 31 points, hit four 3-pointers and collected six rebounds.
Micah Breaux finished with 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting, six rebounds and four assists. Sheepo recorded three steals and added seven points and three assists.
