Stags continue winning streak against Kingsmen

CLAREMONT, Calif. – For the sixth straight year, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team swept the regular season series with the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen thanks to a 63-58 home victory.

The Stags opened up an 11-4 lead at the 13:19 mark after freshman guard Evan Davis (CMC) connected on a three pointer and forced a steal that turned into points.

After Cal Lutheran closed the gap to one at 5:59 of the first half, sophomore guard Michael Scarlett (CMC) and Kingsmen guard Sam Cirillo traded threes. Following a Shelby Lane (CMC) layup seconds later, Cirillo quickly knotted the game up at 19 on a three point play.

The Kingsmen managed to take the lead for the first time on another Cirillo three as time expired and the Stags trailed 31-30 at halftime.

CMS took the lead back just over two minutes into the second half on a fantastic drive to the basket by junior forward Riley Hall (CMC) who was fed nicely by senior guard Jack Earley (CMC) for the layup.

Earley made another solid play when he dove to collect a loose offensive rebound that Scarlett turned into his third three pointer of the game to extend the CMS lead to six at 14:54.

Earley would eventually give CMS a 44-33 advantage on his second three of the night two and a half minutes later.

Cal Lutheran managed to close the gap to three with 18 seconds left on a trio of free throws, but Hall countered with two free throws of his own in the remaining seconds to ice the 63-58 win for CMS.

Scarlett once again led the Stags in scoring but sophomore forward Nicolas Segura (CMC) turned in an admirable performance from the bench, connecting on five of nine shots with three rebounds for an eleven point night in 15 minutes of playing time.

Cirillo led the Kingsmen in points (13) with three of four three pointers and was tied for second on the team in rebounds (4).

The 11-10 (6-7 SCIAC) Stags will have a chance to get back to .500 in conference play against their Sixth Street rival Pomona-Pitzer on Feb. 15.

By Tony Steege
Sports Information Assistant

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