GUARD Migs Oczon is fast proving that College of St. Benilde got a gem of a transferee in him.
With Oczon showing the way, the Blazers turned back San Beda University 78-69 yesterday for their fourth straight win and solidified their hold of the solo lead in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Oczon, formerly of National University in the UAAP, boomed in five three-pointers and scattered 19 points for CSB, while Will Gozum chipped in 16 markers, 10 rebounds, and two assists.
Miggy Corteza and Robi Nayve also had 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Blazers, who scored a fitting follow-up to their 73-64 triumph over Mapua University five days ago and rose to 7-1.
The Red Lions, coming off a 96-61 drubbing of Arellano University last Friday, dropped to 5-3 in a tie with defending two-time champion Letran.
In the other game, Lyceum outlasted San Sebastian College 82-79 in overtime for its sixth win.
Mclaude Guadaña showed the way for the Pirates with 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists, while JM Bravo played the hero’s role in the extra period.
Bravo tallied 14 markers, seven of them in OT that included a backbreaking three-pointer that gave Lyceum an 80-79 cushion with 58.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Golden Stags missed their attempts down the stretch before a Guadaña free throw made it 81-79, 14. 1 to go.
Guadaña then forced San Sebastian’s Raymart Escobido to an out of bounds turnover in the ensuing play and then sank a freebie that pegged the final count.
John Barba also had 11 and six for the Pirates, who made up for a 57-63 loss to Jose Rizal University last Friday and improved to 6-2 for solo second.
The Stags failed to recover from a 69-77 setback last Wednesday and slipped to 2-5.
CSB enjoyed a 37-31 advantage at the half before San Beda trimmed the deficit to 49-51 heading into the payoff period.
James Kwekuteye paced the Lions with 28 points and eight rebounds, while Gab Cometa contributed 10.
Escobido scored 12 points and had seven caroms for San Sebastian, while Alex Desoyo got 12 markers.
