LOS ANGELES — Jacob Adler played his best game of the season, scoring a game-high 21 points, to go along with a career-high 11 rebounds, as the Occidental men's basketball team dodged a meltdown in a 71-69 overtime win against Bethesda on Tuesday.
Oxy was able to push its lead north of double figures late in the second half, but had way too many turnovers, letting Bethesda back into the game and forcing overtime.
In overtime, after Oxy fell behind by three, Adler hit his biggest three-pointer of the game to tie it, and then Ryan Kaneshiro had the go-ahead basket on a hook shot off the board in the key.
Caleb Yellin-Flaherty filled up the stat line with 16 points on 50 percent shooting, nine rebounds and six assists, but he turned it over six times as the Flames made their run to catch up.
Sydney Shipp had a big game off the bench, sparking the Tigers with four steals and 15 points. He shot 7 for 11 from the field, but it was his on ball defense that took Bethesda out of their offense and gave the Tigers opportunities to get out in transition.
Evan Dray had six points and seven rebounds, Kyle Dosa had six points and two blocks, and Kaneshiro had five rebounds and five assists.
Anthony Hollerich gave the Tigers some nice high post minutes off the bench in his second game in the rotation, playing 11 minutes, with a made three, a rebound and a steal.
Jonathan Akharoh was effective in the first half for Bethesda, scoring 18 of his team-high 20 points during the first 20 mintues.
Josiah Woods, who torched the Tigers for nine threes in the first meeting between the teams this year, was held to 3 for 10 from deep.
Eric LaShawn Hamilton scored 11 points and had 17 rebounds for Bethesda.
Oxy did a better job of playing team defense and making it tough for the Flames one-on-one players to catch the ball in their spots.
Season Impact: The Tigers improve to 5-1 on the season.
Bethesda falls to 1-8.
Next Game: Oxy's is back in action with its first SCIAC game of the season against Redlands at home on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.