PASADENA, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2021) – In a wild game featuring six ties and four lead changes, Caltech emerged victorious over local rival Occidental College in an instant-classic 110 Rivalry nonconference game to open the 2021-22 season on Tuesday night.

The Beavers scored on their opening possession but spent most of the first half catching up to the visiting Tigers, trailing by as many as nine points before mounting a 7-0 run in the last three minutes before halftime to take a 30-25 lead into the break. Oxy would get hot again in the second half, regaining the lead for nearly nine minutes by as many as six points before Caltech tied it back up at 53-53 with just over four minutes remaining, hanging on to seal a 63-61 victory in the first home game of the season against a SCIAC opponent.

A late flurry of three-pointers lifted Caltech to the halftime edge as a trio of threes accounted for all nine of the Beavers' points in the final six minutes while holding Oxy scoreless for seven minutes, resulting in a 14-point swing. Senior 2020 First Team All-SCIAC guard Marcus Gee (Santa Monica, Calif. / Santa Monica) caught fire midway through the half, knocking down four triples on eight attempts to lead all scorers with 12 points in the first period. Oxy's trademark defense was able to limit him in the second half as the Tigers tied the game at 36-36 with 13:56 remaining, but senior Noah Barnes (Springfield, Va. / Jefferson) hit his second three-pointer in as many attempts to stake Caltech to another narrow lead.

Oxy's Aiden Williams came up clutch with back-to-back trifectas of his own, however, to send the visitorsin front and another three-pointer on a third straight possession threatened to blow the game back open. The foes traded free throws before some cagey play at both ends that kept the margin at five through the 7:05 mark, when Gee earned an and-on opportunity and converted to make it 49-47. Oxy briefly stretched back out to a six-point lead on consecutive layups, but again the Beavers responded, this time emphatically with back-to-back three-pointers by seniors Spencer Schneider (Houston, Texas / Clearbrook) and Stephen Hei (Newcastle, Wash. / Liberty) interrupted only by a massive block from junior center Pavlos Stavrinides (Nicosia, Cyprus / The English School of Nicosia) to knot the game at 53-53 with 4:25 on the clock.

The Tigers benefitted from a three-point play of their own to regain the lead, but Hei found Barnes to convert a layup and Gee was fouled going up for a three on the next possession. The fifth-year senior calmly stepped to the line and knocked down each attempt to hand the Beavers a two-point lead, which became four on a Hei offensive rebound and layup at 62-58 entering the final minute. Caltech sent Oxy to the line in the bonus with 38 seconds left and though the Tigers would not convert, regained possession by forcing a turnover at halfcourt with 31 seconds to play. With the turnover occuring in the backcourt, the shot clock was reset to 20 and resulted in a rushed, air-balled three-point attempt. The Tigers recovered the ball, though, and knocked down their next attempt to cut the margin to one with just five seconds left to go. 

A foul sent rookie Jeb Brysacz (San Antonio, Texas / Alamo Heights) to the line under the highest of stakes in his first official collegiate game with just over a second remaining and the crowd holding its breath until roaring as he sank the first free throw. His second clanged off, but a heads-up defensive play by Schneider to plant his body and get his arms up directly behind the rebounder completely negated any long-dostance prayer and the victory was sealed for the Beavers.

Head Coach Dr. Oliver Eslinger said that he wasn't sure what to expect after a year and a half off, noting how it felt strange because the Tigers were Caltech's last opponent in 2020. But overall, he was pleased with his team's performance, especially highlighting the improvement on defense and said it felt really good to be back out there playing again.

A balanced effort on offense saw four Beavers scoring in double figures, led by Gee, who had 18 points including four three-pointers and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Schneider and Barnes each tallied 12 points from the starting lineup, and Stavrinides led the Beavers in rebounds with eight. Solid ball movement led to a 19:14 assist-to-turnover ratio on the Beavers' 21 made buckets while the Beavers' edges in three-point percentage (42-31) and free throw percentage (63-43) carried the day.

Eslinger and the Beavers next will host Oglethorpe University from Atlanta, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. following the women's team's season opener.