OCCIDENTAL TOURNAMENT : Occidental Reaches Final, 83-54

The basketball team from Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino was a late addition to the four-team Occidental tournament when Pacific Christian said two weeks ago it would not participate.

Occidental didn’t show much appreciation for the aid it received from the military, however, defeating the Starlifters, 83-54, Friday night at Rush Gymnasium.

The Tigers improved to 5-7. Norton AFB, which plays almost all of its games against other military teams, is 20-9.

Occidental will play Southern California College, a 90-84 winner Friday over Menlo, for the tournament championship tonight at 8.

Senior center Chris Anderson led Occidental with 19 points, including 17 in the second half, when the Tigers extended their 12-point halftime lead (35-23) to as many as 33 points.

Occidental consistently was able to limit the Starlifters to just one shot attempt each time down the floor. Many were from long range.

“We’ve been getting hurt by too many teams on second shots,” Anderson said. “We made an effort to limit that tonight and did a good job, but the game against Southern California College will be a better test.”

Anderson was one of four Occidental players in double figures. Nate Thompson came off the bench to score 14 points. Jeff Muir scored 11 and Brett Dennis added 10.

Mike Erby led the Starlifters with 11 points. T. J. Jefferson and R. J. Troupe had nine points apiece.

Occidental built its halftime lead partly by making six consecutive shots during a six-minute stretch.

Norton AFB scored on a three-point shot from the baseline to open the game, but the lead was short-lived.

Muir hit a short jumper with 15:28 left in the half for a 6-5 Tiger lead. That started the run of sharp-shooting.

John Crawley hit a jump hook, Dennis and Ethan Caldwell both scored on layups, and freshman Phil Engebretsen drilled a three-point shot to put Occidental in front, 15-7.

Thompson made a layup for the sixth consecutive basket and added another with 10:04 left in the half to give Occidental a 19-11 lead.

The Tigers, with a pair of three-point baskets from Muir and Caldwell, extended their advantage to as many as 13 points before halftime.

In the other semifinal:

Southern California College 90, Menlo 84--Southern California College handed Menlo only its second loss of the season thanks to flawless free-throw shooting down the stretch.

With the score tied, 76-76, with 1:50 left to play, the Vanguards sank 10 free throws--four each by Scott Dwinell and John Mounce and two by Elbert Davis.

Mounce led Southern California College (8-5) with 22 points.