LOS ANGELES — Andrew Johnson was a rebound shy of a double-double — 17 points and nine rebounds — and the Occidental men's basketball team had five players in double figures as it cruised past Bethesda 93-83 at Rush Gymnasium on Saturday.

"We are inching forward with a very young team," Oxy head coach Brian Newhall said. "We are gradually getting used to playing with each other. Our best basketball is ahead of us."

Oxy improves to 3-1 on the season. Bethesda falls to 1-7.

Johnson was good from the low block and from the free thow line, finishing 5 of 6 from the field and 7 of 8 from the line. He also cleaned up the glass with four of his nine rebounds at the offensive end.

Oxy opened up a 20-point lead with 10 minutes to play in the second half and was able to keep around a 10-point cushion for most of the remainder of the game. 

Juwan Rice scored 17 points, grabbed five rebounds and recorded three steals for the Tigers. JJ Friedman scored 14 points, Spencer Levy added 12 and Taylor Walton chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Tigers went 10 of 25 from the 3-points line and shot 52 percent from the field. Many of Oxy's quality looks came off of extra passes as the Tigers had 15 assists on 33 total baskets. Levy, Johnson and Austin Hawk each dished out four assists.

Oxy is averaging 95 points per game, scoring in transition and off of turnovers. The Tigers forced Bethesda into 20 turnovers, 13 of them steals. 

in good spots to score."

Rice had three steals, giving him 22 on the season.

Daniel Chavis scored 15 points off of the bench to lead Bethesda and Mark Ware added 13.

The Tigers are back in action at West Coast Baptist on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Oxy plays its next home game against Bristol on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.