THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Four Kingsmen scored in double figures as California Lutheran University men's basketball opened conference play with a 76-60 triumph over Occidental 76-60 on Wednesday night. 

The Kingsmen improved to 7-0, their best start since the 2016-17 season, while moving to 1-0 in conference. The Purple and Gold are the only unbeaten team in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).

Desi Burrage, Tommy Griffitts, Ryan Grande and Jacob Alonzo all scored in double-digits to lead the Kingsmen. 

Burrage came off the bench to score a team-high 15, going 3-for-4 from three-point range. Griffitts was next with 14 points and added five rebounds and two blocks. Grande hit four three-pointers, including a four-point play, and grabbed seven rebounds. Alonzo filled up his stat line with 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. 

The Kingsmen shot 49.2-percent from the field (30-61) and 38.5 from three (10-26). The Purple and Gold outrebounded the Tiger 36 to 28. The Kingsmen dished out 19 assists and committed just 10 turnovers. Cal Lutheran scored 26 points in the paint and had 24 bench points. 

The Tigers got the best of the Kingsmen early on and had a 6-point lead five minutes into the game. Occidental pushed its lead to eight halfway through the first half and held a 19-11 lead before Cal Lutheran turned it on. 

The Kingsmen eventually tied the game up at 26, as they slowly chipped away at the lead. With the Tigers up 35-31, and 2:10 left in the half, the Kingsmen made their move. They finished the half on a 8-0 run, as Burrage and Grande hit back-to-back threes to end the half. 

Cal Lutheran pushed its lead to 10 early in the second half, creating the distance they needed. The Kingsmen had its biggest lead of the game with 2:59 left in the game, going up 20, putting on the finishing touches. 

The Kingsmen continue their season at home on Saturday and host Chapman at 2 p.m. 

Box Score: CLU 76, OXY 60
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director