LOS ANGELES — Caleb Yellin-Flaherty and Jacob Adler led four players in double figures as the Occidental men's basketball team got up by 22 points in the first half and was able to hold on for an 88-76 victory at West Coast Baptist on Thursday night.
West Coast Baptist couldn't guard Yellin-Flaherty inside and off the bounce. He scored 22 points on 9 for 11 shooting, and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, including six at the offensive end of the court.
Oxy looked like it might be in trouble when Yellin-Flaherty fouled out with 6 minutes to go and the lead got down to single digits. The Tigers started to lock down on defense and held off the Golden Eagles for the victory.
Adler was hot from three in the first half, going 5 for 6 from beyond the arch in the first 20 minutes, and finished the game with a team-high 23 points.
Sydney Shipp, a first year guard from Houston, Texas, continues to impress with bursts on both offense and defense. He made big plays down the stretch, finishing with 15 points on 6 for 9 shooting. It seemed like any time the Tigers needed to end a West Coast Baptist run, Shipp was the one exploding to the basket for a layup.
First year forward Evan Dray came out hot with six points in the first 5 minutes, finishing with 11.
Oxy guard Ryan Kaneshiro chipped in five points and eight rebounds, Kyle Dosa had seven points and five rebounds, and Gray Davidson had five points and six rebounds.
The Tigers had spurts of good defense and spurts where West Coast Baptist was the first to long rebounds, leading to set shot threes that helped the Golden Eagles climb back into the game. West Coast Baptist went 15 for 28 from beyond the 3-point line as a group.
Seth Hana led WCB with a game-high 24 points.
Season Impact: Oxy improves to 2-0 on the season with its second double-digit win of the year. The Tigers beat Yeshiva in its season and home opener.
Next Game: Oxy is back in action against Bethesda on Saturday at 7 p.m.