Author: Mirin Fader
The men’s basketball team (6-7 SCIAC; 12-12 overall) decisively lost two consecutive home games this past week against Whittier College and Cal Lutheran University. On Wednesday, Feb. 16, the Tigers lost 53-57 to the Whittier Poets (7-6 SCIAC; 12-12 overall), also losing to the Cal Lu Kingsmen (7-6 SCIAC; 13-11 overall) 66-70 this past Saturday. Both losses eliminated the possibility of a playoff berth for the Tigers in SCIAC’s post-season tournament.
In Wednesday’s game versus Whittier, Occidental was plagued by 21 turnovers (including three early turnovers in the first few minutes of the game), compared to Whittier’s 13 turnovers.
Despite taking a modest lead over the Poets (15-11) at the 8:56 mark of the first half from a turn-around jump-shot by forward Kris Montoya (first-year), Occidental’s lead diminished by halftime, where Whittier led by seven (28-21).
An offensive rebound by Whittier forward Damon Perry (senior) at the 17:36 mark in the second half pushed Whittier’s lead to 11 (34-23). Perry scored a team-high 15 points, while grabbing eight rebounds — five of which were offensive. On numerous occasions, Occidental failed to box-out Perry (and other Poets), contributing to Whittier’s dominance in the paint (34-24 points in the paint compared to Oxy). Whittier also scored 11 second chance points, compared to Occidental’s six, and scored 10 points off fast-break opportunities, while Occidental scored none.
Occidental’s 46 percent shooting from the field (Whittier shot 45 percent) helped cut the lead to four points (44-40), on a three by guard Jack Hanley (junior) with 9:05 left to play in the game.
Whittier responded with several offensive rebounds and put-back layups, extending their lead to seven points at the 6:14 mark (50-43). A jumper by guard Sam Stapleton (sophomore) brought the Tigers within three points (53-50) with 57 seconds left in regulation.
Whittier guard Greg Preer (junior) was fouled with just under 40 seconds, where he made both free-throws to extend Whittier’s lead to 5 (55-50).
Stapleton was fouled on a three-pointer with 33 seconds left in the game. He made all three free-throws to bring the Tigers within two points (55-53).
Occidental fouled Whittier guard Brandon Thomas (junior), who made one out of two free-throws to bring Whittier’s lead back to three (56-53). Hanley missed a floater layup with nine seconds left in the game. Preer then made a free-throw to give the Poets a 57-53 victory over the Tigers.
Stapleton finished the game with 10 points and 3 assists.
“I knew I had to step up. Making the first shot gave me a confidence boost to keep taking them. Unfortunately it was too little too late,” Stapleton said.
Forward Deshun McCoy (sophomore) scored a team high 18 points (on an efficient 9-12 shooting), adding 8 rebounds, but committed 7 turnovers. Forward Drew Dockweiler (first-year) grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, to go along with eight points. Forward Jake Copithorne (junior) dished a game-high seven assists, while contributing eight rebounds.
Alongside Perry’s 15 points, Whittier guard Willie Mebane posted 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
Unfortunately, prior to this game, the Tigers were tied with Whittier for the four spot in SCIAC standings.
“They made big plays when they had to and we didn’t,” Stapleton said.
Head Coach Brian Newhall attributes the loss to Whittier’s defense.
“Whittier was a step quicker at every position. We could not absorb their wave of pressure and find a way to get the ball inside on offense,” he said.
In Saturday night’s loss versus Cal Lutheran University (CLU) (66-70), the Tigers had looked to avenge a 52-55 overtime loss at CLU earlier this season (Jan. 29).
Jack Hanley scored a career-high 33 points on an astounding 12-22 shooting right from the field, to fuel a late come-back run from a deficit that reached as high as 15 points (at the 12 minute mark) in the second half. Twenty-five of Hanley’s 33 points were scored in the second half. Hanley also scored three-threes.
“Hanley played his heart out,” Newhall said.
The Kingsmen led 35-25 at halftime.
The Tigers were able to pull within eight (52-44) on a three by Stapleton (who finished with six points and three assists) with 7:19 left in the game.
A jumper by Hanley with 1:46 left in regulation cut the lead to six points (64-58). Copithorne scored a layup with 53 seconds left in the game to bring the Tigers within three points. However, free-throws by CLU sealed their victory.
CLU shot 53 percent from the field, while Occidental shot just 42 percent. The Kingsmen were led by guards Jayvaughn Nettles (sophomore) and Greg Grimm (senior), who both scored 22 points on 7-13 shooting. Nettles scored four threes, while Grimm scored five threes. Forward Aaron Van Klaveren (junior) added 13 points, with a team-high 10 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Copithorne grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Dockweiler scored 10 points and added 6 rebounds. Montoya contributed 8 points.
Occidental certainly improved their turnover issues from the previous game, committing just five in Saturday night’s game (compared to nine by CLU).
Despite their efforts, the Tigers will conclude their season at Cal Tech on Tuesday, Feb. 22.
“Post-season play is out of our hands now. All we can do is take care of our own business,” Newhall said.
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