photo credit: Alicia Tsai
photo credit: Alicia Tsai

Bulldogs Edge Stags Late, Take SCIAC Opener

REDLANDS, Calif. – The Redlands Bulldogs used a strong second-half to push past the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team 72-67 on Wednesday night. Michael Scarlett (CMC) led the Stags with 17 points in the game, including eight in the first-half to help CMS build a 32-20 lead at the break.

Following halftime the Bulldogs shot 55.6% from the field and connected on 17 free throws to overcome the 12-point deficit at the half and claim the conference victory.

With the game tied 5-5 in the first-half, CMS used three's from Scarlett and Miles President (HMC) to take an 11-5 lead less than five minutes into the contest. Throughout the remainder of the first-half, CMS continued to grow the lead and ended the half on a 7-2 run to take a 32-20 lead into the locker room.

The 12-point halftime lead was their largest of the game.

Redlands quickly cut the CMS lead to six points at 32-26 thanks to a 6-0 run in the first two minutes of the half. A three from President halted the run and just a minute later, a three from Scarlett put the CMS lead back into double-digits at 39-29.

The Bulldogs swiftly responded with a 17-2 run over the next six minutes to take their first lead of the game at 44-41.

It took five minutes, but the Stags eventually took the lead back when Jack Ely (CMC) connected from beyond the arc with just under seven minutes remaining in the game. Ely's three put the Stags up 53-52 and started a 9-2 run for CMS. Ely hit another three and Scott Lynds connected on a triple during the 1:16 run.

Despite scoring just two buckets from the field in the game's final 5:30, CMS continued to hold the lead until Blake O'Brien nailed a three with 1:20 remaining to give Redlands a 64-63 lead.

On the ensuing CMS possession, Scarlett netted an unassisted jumper to take the lead back at 65-64. Layups from Redlands' Joey Sponheim and Jacob Russell were sandwiched around a free throw from Kendrick Morris (CMC) to give the Bulldogs a 68-66 lead with under 20 seconds remaining.

The Stags then missed a jumper and Redlands converted from the free throw line in the final 10 seconds to ice the game. CMS falls to 0-1 in the SCIAC after following 72-67 on Wednesday.

The Stags will next take the court on Saturday when they travel to Pomona-Pitzer to take on their rivals across the street at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.