Lynds and Morris Direct Stags Past Pioneers

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team used 18-point performances from both Scott Lynds (CMC) and Kendrick Morris (CMC) to defeat the Lewis & Clark Pioneers 87-64 in Roberts Pavilion on Wednesday night. The Stags led by as many as 15 points in the first-half, but a strong run from the Pioneers closed the game to a 36-30 contest at the break.

In the second-half, the Stags dominated play and shot an impressive 22-30 from the floor (73.3%) to claim the 23-point victory.

After not playing for over two weeks, the Stags showed no signs of rust in Wednesday's game. CMS sprinted out to a 9-0 lead in the first 2:30 of the contest. After the Pioneers got on the board, a three from Lynds eight minutes into the game gave the Stags their largest lead of the opening period at 20-5.

With under five minutes remaining before the half, CMS continued to lead by double-digits after a layup from Morris put the Stags up 32-20. A pair of threes from Lewis & Clark quickly trimmed the lead to six points before a layup from the Pioneers' Daelon Floyd made it a 32-28 game with 2:18 left in the half.

Two buckets from Lynds in the final 2:01 of the half helped bump the CMS lead back to six points (36-30) at the intermission.

Lewis & Clark opened the second-half scoring with a jumper from Zeke Crawford, but a three-point barrage from CMS allowed the Stags to bolt in front. In a two-minute span, Michael Scarlett (CMC) connected a pair of threes and Lynds knocked down a triple in transition to give CMS a 10-point cushion at 45-35.

The lead would never dip back into single digits and the Stags cruised to the 87-64 victory. Scarlett and Jeremy Horn (CMC) led the charge in the second-half with 10 points apiece in the final 20 minutes. Horn scored all 10 of his points in just five minutes on the floor and the duo combined to shoot 8-11 from the field in the half.

As mentioned, CMS was on fire from the field in the second-half. Their 73.3% clip in the second stanza helped the Stags to a 60.7% effort for the game. That mark is their highest in a single-game this season and it is the first time they have shot north of 60% from the field in a game since Jan. 21, 2017 vs. Cal Lutheran (34-56, 60.7%).

Morris collected his first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds and 18 points.

The Stags will be back in action on Friday when they host Tufts University at 7:00 p.m.