CLU Sports

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – In a battle of co-leaders in the SCIAC, the California Lutheran University men’s basketball team dropped a 67-58 decision to Occidental College at home on Saturday night. The Kingsmen led by two at the break, but a 14-4 Tigers run to open the second half gave Oxy a lead it would hold to the final buzzer.

Cal Lutheran had its team defense on full display allowing just 21 first half points to the conference’s top ranked offense. CLU forced 10 turnovers and held the SCIAC’s leading scorer Connor Whitman to just five first half points.

Whitman showed why he is the SCIAC’s leading scorer during the second half, scoring 16 of his team-high 21 points. His three-pointer with 6:11 left in regulation gave the Tigers its largest lead of the game at 54-43.

CLU sophomore Mychal Owens responded with a career-high 26 points, with 19 coming in the second period. Down by 11, the Kingsmen big men duo of Owens and Andy Meier dominated the next 3:44 combining for every point of a 12-3 run, pulling CLU to within two at 57-55.

Cal Lutheran senior Deshion Inniss forced a five-second turnover call against Whiman with 1:01 left on the clock, trailing 61-57. Following a Meier offensive rebound from an Owens miss, Whitman stripped the ball away and sank a pair of free throws.

It would come down to the final possessions in regulation but the Kingsmen could not capitalize. Following its final push to regain the lead CLU failed to score a field goal the final 2:27 of the game and Occidental was a perfect 16-of-16 from the free throw line (14-of-14 in second half).

Cal Lutheran (13-3, 3-2 SCIAC) is currently in a four-way tie for second place in the conference standings. It will host the University of Redlands (8-8, 3-2 SCIAC) on Wednesday, January 30 at 7:30 pm.

Box Score:OXY 67, CLU 58 F