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 Courntey '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.