Comeback team win for Stags over Cal Maritime

CLAREMONT, Calif. – In the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team's first game of the 2016 David Wells Classic, the Stags rallied back from a first half deficit to beat Cal Maritime Academy 83-79. CMS was down by as many as eight points and came back for the hard fought four-point victory to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The Stags put up a 72 percent shooting percentage for the second half as were remarkably successful at taking care of the basketball with just two turnovers. Head coach Ken Scalmanini commented, "These guys are still getting used to playing together this early in the season, but they're led by two excellent seniors who are healthy and know how to pull the team together." CMS was 14-for-16 on free throws in the second half as senior Riley Hall (CMC) accounted for six of those. Senior Scott Lynds (CMC) and junior Michael Scarlett (CMC) were also perfect from the line.

The Stags trailed the Keelhaulers the entire game until Hall nabbed two steals on consecutive possessions that resulted in breakaway buckets to even the score at 49-49. Both teams combined sunk fifteen threes in the second half. For CMS, Lynds made two of three while freshman Miles President (CMC) was 4-for-4 from the field including two three pointers in the half.

CMS' first lead in the game came at 65-64 after one of Hall's free throws. The lead was fleeting, though, as Cal Maritime went on a 9-to-2 run as Phil Randles was flawless from the free throw line. Then, junior Kendrick Morris (CMC) continued the hard work he had been at all night with a block followed by two consecutive layups to bring the Stags back within two points at 75-73.

Lynds personally scored the next seven points in the game to take CMS past the Keelhaulers at 80-77 with 30 seconds on the clock. When CMA fouled CMS, the Stags were successful with the free opportunities and ultimately won 83-79 with skilled clock management and defense as time expired.

Statistically the teams matched up almost identically after the game. Each team made 27 baskets as Cal Maritime edged out the Stags on three pointers (13 to 11) but CMS added six more free throws (18 to 12) to make up the difference, and then some. Cal Maritime was led by senior Daniel Radford with 22 points plus three rebounds. The Stags had four starters in double digits with Lynds leading at 20 points. President played 30 minutes and went 6-for-12 on the night, having taken the most shots for CMS.

Next up for the Stags is a contest vs. Southwestern from Texas at the Rains Center on Pomona College's campus Saturday, Nov. 26 at 3:30 p.m.

Box Score

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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