LOS ANGELES, Calif — Occidental (16-6, 9-4 SCIAC) fell to No. 12 Claremont-M-S (21-2, 12-2 SCIAC) in an overtime thriller, 73-68, on Wednesday night at Rush Gymnasium.
The Tigers led for the first 38:30 of the game, but in the final two minutes of regulation the Stags nabbed their first lead then forced overtime with a bucket in the last three seconds of the second half. CMS pulled away in the overtime period to earn the gritty road win.
Occidental opened the first half with strong offensive efforts, quickly establishing a lead through a series of successful plays.
Alex McCleery Brown was pivotal, scoring with a tip-in and a jumper in the early minutes. The Tigers continued to build momentum with
Jacob Koretz adding a three-pointer at 17:51, assisted by McCleery Brown, contributing to an 11–2 early advantage.
The Tigers led by as many as 12 in the first five minutes, but CMS showed why its the No. 12 team in the nation, never wavering and fighting through adversity. Oxy led by seven heading into the break.
The Tigers began the second half with a strong offensive push, highlighted by
Nicky Clotfelter's early 3-pointer assisted by
Nasir Luna, which set the tone for their scoring efforts. Despite a series of turnovers and fouls, Clotfelter continued to impact the game with key plays, including a layup and free throws that helped maintain Occidental's lead.
After surrendering the lead,
Atticus Boba hit a clutch three, giving the Tigers a 61-59 lead with 1:09 to go. Oxy got a stop then missed a jumper, giving CMS 18 seconds of offense, enough time to tie the game, force OT, then eventually secure the win.
McCleery Brown scored 21 points and collected 11 rebounds, leading the team in both categories. Luna added nine points and recorded five assists, contributing significantly to the playmaking efforts. Clotfelter contributed 19 points and made seven field goals, showcasing efficiency from the floor. Koretz made a defensive impact with two steals, while Boba also recorded two steals, bolstering the defensive effort.
Occidental has a record of 16-6 overall and 9-4 in SCIAC play. Claremont-M-S holds a 21-2 overall record and is 12-2 in conference competition. Despite the loss, a Pomona-Pitzer loss earned the Tigers a clinching spot in the SCIAC tournament. It will be the Tigers first trip to the tourney since the 2021-22 when eight teams reached the SCIAC tournament. Oxy holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over Whittier.
