LOS ANGELES — Zach Baines scored 26 points on 9 for 19 shooting and 3 for 5 from beyond the 3-point line, leading the Occidental men's basketball team to a 84-72 win at Whittier on Saturday.

Baines hit a couple of key outside shots and finished nicely around the basket as Oxy ran away from the Poets in the second half after playing the first 20 minutes to a 36-36 tie. 

Jonny Crosthwaite had 17 points and nine rebounds, Caleb Yellin-Flaherty had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Jeevin Sandhu scored 16 points off the bench. Ryan Kaneshiro had six assists, six rebounds and just one turnover against Whittier's full court pressure and Austin DeWitz had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists. 

The Tigers gave up too many easy baskets in the first half, but clamped down on defense in the second half, extending a double-digit lead for most of the final 10 minutes. Every time the Poets made a push, Oxy came up with key stops and secured the rebound. 

Oxy held Whittier to 39 percent shooting on the game and outrebounded the Poets 42-33.

Connor Longmire led the Poets with 17 points and Ryan Henry added 16.

Season Impact: Oxy improves to 9-2 overall and 2-0 in SCIAC play.

Whittier falls to 4-9 and 2-2.

Next Game: The Tigers are back in action with their second consecutive road game, playing La Verne on Monday at 7 p.m. Oxy returns home to face Caltech on Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.