The California Institute of Technology men’s basketball team won a conference game Tuesday night for the first time since 1985, breaking a losing streak believed to have stretched to 310 games.

The team’s 46-45 home victory over Occidental, in the final game of the season, was the first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory for Caltech since a 1-point win over La Verne more than 26 years ago, before any of the current players were born.

Ryan Elmquist scored the winning point by making the first of two free throws with three seconds left. He missed the second, and Occidental’s desperation shot from halfcourt was off target, sending students and fans in the small Braun Athletic Center gym onto the court for a celebration of hugs and whoops.

“Tonight’s win is a testament to the hard work each member of this team, the alumni and the supporters have put into this program,” Coach Oliver Eslinger said after the game, according to the athletic department’s Web site. “I hope that everyone who has participated in Caltech men’s basketball is able to celebrate a little bit tonight.”