A stingy team defense keyed the Tigers’ latest victory, a 70-42 triumph over Cal Lutheran Saturday night at Rush Gym. Cal Lutheran didn’t hit its first basket until 2 ½ minutes into the contest and scored just 14 points in the first half, hitting six of 22 attempts from the floor.
Occidental opened the game on an 11-2 run and never looked back, leading by 21 points at halftime and as many as 35 in the second half. Cal Lutheran had won two of the last four meetings with Occidental and provided an early stumbling block for the Tigers last season.
Led by its frontcourt tandem of Zach Phillips and Sam Betty, Occidental out-rebounded Cal Lutheran 39-21 and held a 28-13 advantage on the defensive glass. Phillips netted 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals to complement Betty, who collected 15 points and five offensive boards.
Connor Whitman added nine points on three three-pointers while backcourt mates Gyan Alexander and Justin Zebb scored seven and six, respectively. Ivan Kostic led the Tiger rebounders with nine boards.
Oxy’s win over Cal Lutheran sets up a three-way tie in the SCIAC standings with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and two-time defending league champion Pomona-Pitzer.
With road trips to Whittier and run-and-gun Redlands on tap this week, veteran head coach Brian Newhall cautioned against a let down before the Tigers’ next home game, a Jan. 25 showdown with CMS.
“Whittier has been a very tough team at home,” offered Newhall. “They ended Chapman’s 19-game winning streak earlier this season and beat a good Wheaton College team to win the Purple and Gold Classic. They’re a senior-laden team with a lot of quick, athletic players. We’ll have our hands full Wednesday night.”