Morris hammers career-high 25 points in Whittier victory

WHITTIER, CA – Last season, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team lost both meetings to Whittier College. Junior Kendrick Morris (CMC) was not going to have any of it on Friday night, scoring a career-high 25 points, as he led the Stags (6-0, 1-0) to a 73-68 victory over the Poets (1-3, 0-1). The victory broke the Stags' short drought against the Poets and extended their winning streak to six games.

The big man was highly efficient, going 12-for-14 from the field, and grabbing seven rebounds. Senior Scott Lynds (CMC) did an excellent job closing the game and scored 16 points with nine boards. Chris Kapano led the Poets in scoring with 19 points while his teammate Eric Davis scored 12 off the bench.

Trailing 5-0 at the start of the game, Morris got to work early in the post, scoring three consecutive layups during a 10-0 run to give CMS the lead. With 10:42 left in the half, the Stags managed to take a nine-point lead after sophomore Evan Davis (CMC) hit a three-pointer followed by a layup from Morris. The Poets responded with an 11-2 run to tie the game at 26 apiece, but the CMS upperclassman cooly gathered themselves and fought back. After junior Michael Scarlett (CMC) and Lynds brought the Stags back ahead 31-28, Lynds found Morris for a big dunk. Morris continued to punish the Poets in the paint, scoring three straight layups following the dunk to put CMS ahead 39-32.

The two teams came into the second half trading baskets until freshman Miles President (HMC) and Lynds scored back-to-back three-pointers to give CMS the 54-42 lead.  However, the Poets went on an 8-2 run to keep the game within single digits. The two teams kept it close until the final two minutes when the Poets resorted to intentionally fouling the Stags to save clock.

With 1:41 left, Lynds converted two free throws, but Kapano quickly responded with a three to cut the Stags' lead 68-63. The Poets caught a break after fouling Scarlett and seeing him miss his free throw attempt. Kapano nailed another three-pointer to put the game within two. Scarlett responded with two free throws, and after Richard Kaye missed a layup with 21 seconds left, the Poets fouled President who went to the line. President went 1-for-2 from the line, and after Kapano missed a layup with less than 10 seconds left, Lynds converted his free throw to ice the game.

The Stags will hit the road once again to Santa Barbara on Saturday, Dec. 17  at 7 p.m. to take on NAIA No. 9 Westmont College (9-1, 1-0). 

Box Score

By Young Kim
Sports Information Assistant

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