LOS ANGELES — Occidental (17-6, 10-4 SCIAC) narrowly defeated the University of Redlands (19-4, 11-3 SCIAC) 86-82 in a tense conference matchup at Rush Gymnasium. The Tigers built a four-point halftime lead and maintained it despite a strong three-point shooting performance from the Bulldogs, which converted 12 of 33 attempts from beyond the arc. Occidental's dominance in the paint, outscoring Redlands 44-26, proved crucial in securing the victory.
Occidental started the game with an aggressive offensive approach, quickly establishing momentum.
Alex McCleery Brown initiated the scoring with a tip-in at 19:50, setting the tone for the first half. The home team maintained control, extending its lead to 13–3 by 16:59, with McCleery Brown contributing significantly in the paint. The Tigers' defense also played a crucial role, forcing turnovers and limiting Redlands' scoring opportunities. By the end of the half, Occidental led 47–43, showcasing effective scoring and defensive plays.
The Tigers experienced a strong finish to the second half, retaining a narrow lead in a back-and-forth contest.
Peter Noble's crucial 3-pointer at 5:06 reclaimed the advantage for the Tigers, while
Nasir Luna's layup at 1:08 helped maintain the edge. Despite Redlands' attempts to catch up, Luna's consistent free-throw shooting in the final seconds secured Occidental's position. The half concluded with both teams scoring 39 points, and the game ended with the Tigers victorious, 86-82.
McCleery Brown scored 28 points and recorded 17 rebounds, leading the team in both categories. Luna added 19 points and contributed five assists, showcasing his playmaking abilities.
Nicky Clotfelter tallied 12 points and collected 13 rebounds, providing a strong presence in the paint. Noble made three 3-pointers and finished with nine points.
Occidental has a record of 17-6 overall and 10-4 in SCIAC play. The Bulldogs stand at 19-4 overall with an 11-3 mark in SCIAC competition.
Looking ahead, the Tigers will host Chapman on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in their second to last regular season game of the year. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. in Los Angeles, California.
