LA VERNE, Calif. — Occidental (16-5, 9-3 SCIAC) edged out La Verne (3-17, 1-11 SCIAC) with a 83-77 victory on Saturday night at Sports Sci. Athletic Pavilion. The Tigers capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 22 points off offensive rebounds.
Occidental opened the game with a strong offensive push led by
Nicky Clotfelter, who scored a tip-in and subsequent layup to establish an early lead.
Alex McCleery Brown contributed significantly with multiple layups, helping the Tigers maintain momentum despite the Leopards' efforts to close the gap. In a tightly contested first half with four ties and a single lead change, Occidental managed a slight edge in points in the paint, scoring 28 compared to La Verne's 22. The half concluded with a narrow 46–45 lead in favor of the Leopards.
The Tigers surged in the second half with a pivotal scoring run, overtaking La Verne after trailing earlier.
Nasir Luna sparked momentum by scoring a critical 3-pointer at 6:03 to give Occidental a significant lead. The team maintained control, with McCleery Brown contributing key free throws and rebounds to extend their advantage. Despite the Leopards' attempts to close the gap, Occidental's consistent scoring resulted in a 38–31 half edge, concluding with an 83–77 victory.
McCleery Brown led with 22 points and secured 14 rebounds, converting all eight of his free throw attempts. Luna added 19 points, including two 3-pointers, while dishing out four assists. Clotfelter contributed 20 points and three steals, complementing his performance with eight rebounds.
Atticus Boba facilitated the offense with five assists and scored 11 points.
The Tigers have a record of 16-5 overall and 9-3 in SCIAC competition. The Leopards hold a record of 3-17 overall and 1-11 in SCIAC play.
Looking ahead, Occidental will face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on their home court in Los Angeles, California. The matchup is set for Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.
