Stags bounce back with big win vs. Whittier

CLAREMONT, Calif. – After a tough loss on Tuesday night, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team delivered over 40 points in each half for the eventual 87-67 victory over the Whittier College on Thursday night. The Stags (18-2, 11-1) earned 25 points on free throws alone as Whittier (8-12, 3-9) quickly pushed the foul count into the bonus in each half.

Ultimately, five CMS players scored in double digits on the night while the Poets predominantly relied on just two. Junior Kendrick Morris (CMC) dominated the paint and also drew a number of shooting fouls to end up with 19 points for the Stags. Despite being heavily guarded for the majority of his 37 minutes, classmate Michael Scarlett (CMC) still managed 18 points plus two assists.

CMS limited the starters for Whittier to just 25 points while Eric Davis and Connor Longmire came off the bench for 18 and 16 points, respectively.

Sophomore Evan Davis (CMC) got things going for the Stags in their first possession with a mid-range jumper. The Stags began the game with quick ball movement, giving each player a number of touches. The first five baskets made by CMS came from different shooters, capped off by freshman Miles President (HMC) hitting a big 3-pointer to give CMS the 12-6 lead.

Whittier got within one after a steal and breakaway dunk from Davis, but then Morris and Davis for the Stags combined for eight points, cushioning the lead. Free throws made up a significant part of the remaining 10 minutes in the first half. At the break, the Stags held the 41-30 lead.

Morris was effective in the post from the start of the second half and went on to score 11 points in the period. In the game against Whittier earlier in the season, the Stags fed Morris under the hoop for a career-high of 25 points.

Sophomore Ryan Kusch (HMC) came in for 12 solid minutes in the second half. In that time, he was perfect from the field (3-for-3) and perfect from the line (2-for-2). Ten points in total marks a career-high for Kusch.

CMS kept pouring it in as the game wore on. The Stags shot 57.1 percent on the night from the field and 83.3 percent on free throws.

Next up for CMS in the busy week is a road game at La Verne on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. In their last meeting, the Stags came back from a 53-44 deficit at half time to hold ULV to just 28 in the second period, eventually winning 90-81.

Box Score

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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