Maxwell Kirsch - Men's Basketball

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Junior forward Maxwell Kirsch had a major role in helping the CMS men's basketball team to a pair of SCIAC home wins over the weekend, knocking down 10 shots in a row from the floor, including 6-6 from three-point territory, to help the Stags defeat Caltech and La Verne and set up a big home game with Occidental on Wednesday night.

In an 85-69 win over Caltech on Saturday, Kirsch had a rare perfect game shooting the basketball, ending the night 6-6 from the floor, 3-3 from the three-point line, and 1-1 at the free throw stripe on his way to 16 points in 13 minutes. The Stags were locked in a close game with the Beavers for most of the way, leading just 41-40 at the break, and 55-53 with 11:40 to go, but Kirsch had an old-fashioned three-point play and a three-point shot, and a jumper in the paint to account for eight points in a 10-0 run that gave CMS control of the game.  

In Monday night's win over La Verne, Kirsch again had a quick spurt to break the game open, hitting a three-pointer, getting a steal and a dunk, and then knocking down another three on three straight CMS possessions in the first half to give CMS a 26-10 lead. He finished the first half 4-4 from the floor and 3-3 from three, before seeing his first three-point attempt in the second half rim out to end his streak of 10 straight made shots. He ended hte night with 15 points, the only player on either team to score in double figures. 

With those two wins, CMS now stands at 10-3 in the SCIAC with three games to play, and face 11-3 Occidental at home on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. A win in that contest would give the Stags a season sweep of Occidental and likely secure home court advantage for the SCIAC semifinal round on Friday, Feb. 22.