CMS scores 48 in second half to beat Occidental

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team beat Occidental College 83-60 on Wednesday night to remain undefeated in SCIAC.  The Stags are now 10-0 in conference play with only six games remaining in the season. After a close first half, CMS pulled away in the second half making all five three-point attempts and Tyler Gaffaney's 21 points.

In the first half, every time CMS got ahead by a few baskets, Occidental fought their way back within reach. At half time, the Stags led 35-28.

The second half began with Gaffaney quickly scoring six points and Jack Grodahl added a three-point basket to give the Stags a 45-33 lead  in the first three minutes of play. Gaffaney went on to score 15 more points in the half to garner 23 for the game.

Jack Earley was perfect from the field, making each of the three shots he took, totaling eight points. Oliver Mausner made a big three-pointer near the end of the game to extend CMS' lead to 22 points.

Assistant coach Michael Wells was at the helm of the Tigers tonight. It was fitting that the son of Jodie Burton and the late David Wells, who grew up in the CMS community and in Ducey Gym, filled in as the head coach for the last time his team would play in Ducey Gym for the regular season. Occidental's spark plug Juwan Rice scored 16 points, his second highest scoring game of the season.

On Saturday, Feb. 8, CMS travels to Rains Gymnasium to face their Sixth Street rivals and #2 seed in SCIAC, Pomona-Pitzer.  Tipoff is at 5 pm.

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