Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Grinnell College Athletics

Grinnell College logo - go to site
Sean Murphy
Ted Schultz
98
Winner Grinnell GC 9-2,4-0 Midwest Conference
89
Occidental OXY 9-2,2-0 SCIAC
Winner
Grinnell GC
9-2,4-0 Midwest Conference
98
Final
89
Occidental OXY
9-2,2-0 SCIAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Grinnell GC 57 41 98
Occidental OXY 39 50 89

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Ted Schultz

Grinnell uses big runs in both halves to dispose of Occidental College

Rosen enjoys career-best scoring effort as Pioneers hand Tigers first home loss of the season

LOS ANGELES - Grinnell College's men's basketball team wasn't bothered in the slightest by the fact Occidental College hadn't lost in its home gym all season.

The Pioneers, playing the second of two games on their trip to the West Coast, used a big surge late in the first half and another in the second to tame the Tigers 98-89 at Rush Gym Monday afternoon. It was just the second loss of the season for Occidental.

Zach Rosen '26 put on an incredible performance, scoring a career-high 25 points with the aid of four 3-pointers. Also in double digits were Gabe Garcia '27 with 13 and John Vincent '26 with 11.

Grinnell, which is 9-2 for the second season in a row, dealt the Tigers a big blow by breaking open a close game with a 19-2 run to close out the first half.

With the Pioneers nursing a 38-37 lead with 4:33 left in the opening stanza, Vincent scored inside and Tanner Deal '27 drained a 3-pointer to put the visitors ahead by six. Sean Murphy '26 and Rosen followed Deal's lead by also sinking treys as Grinnell stretched its margin to 49-37 with 2:53 left.

After a bucket by the Tigers, Deal went to town again with a bucket from beyond the arc. Kai Te Huki '27 followed with a layup, Nick Courtney '26 also scored from close range and Rosen hit a free throw with a second to go for a 57-39 halftime lead.

Occidental, also 9-2 on the season, refused to fold and crept within 78-77 with 5:42 remaining in the game. Rosen stepped up for Grinnell, though, scoring on a driving layup to push the visitors ahead by three. After the Tigers again closed within a point, Vincent scored from close range, Garcia hit a layup, Tyler Copes '29 made a short basket and Te Huki scored to push the lead to 89-80 with 3:11 left.

But the Tigers answered with eight consecutive points to close within one once more. This time Grinnell delivered the final blow, as Copes scored on a tip-in and Rosen cashed in on a layup and 3-pointer for a 96-88 lead with 42 seconds left. Grinnell held on from there to stretch its winning streak to seven.

Vincent grabbed seven boards for Grinnell, while Rosen and Courtney had six apiece. Garcia led the team in assists with five, Vincent blocked two shots and Garcia and Sean Walser '26 tallied two steals apiece.

Grinnell returns to Darby Gymnasium Saturday to face Lawrence University. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.

Game Notes:
**Garcia moved up to seventh on Grinnell's career list for free throws made with 361, tying the mark of Pioneer head coach David Arseneault Jr. Garcia also jumped to 15th for career assists with 223.

**Just as in the game against the University of La Verne on Saturday, Grinnell's fanbase in the gym outnumbered that of the host school.
Print Friendly Version