CMS Men's Basketball Falls to Chicago in Defensive Struggle to Open 2018-19 Season

CHICAGO - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team held the University of Chicago to only 30.9 percent shooting, but couldn't generate enough offense on its own end as it fell 51-43 to the Maroons in its season opener on Saturday afternoon on the opening day of the Midway Classic.

CMS opens its season at 0-1, while Chicago, which already had two games under its belt, remains undefeated at 3-0. 

The Stags got most of their offense from the frontcourt, as junior center Jeremy Horn had 11 points and nine rebounds, while senior forward Nicolas Segura Dobjanschi had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

Segura Dobjanschi hit a jump shot with 3:28 remaining to tie the score 41-41, but the Maroons scored the next six points. Jordan Baum (14 points) gave Chicago the lead with a layup, and Ryan Jacobsen had a steal and scored to push it to 45-41 with 1:55 to go.

Cole Schmitz then hit a jumper with 1:06 to go to make it a six point game, before Horn answered with two foul shots to close to 47-43. The Stags were unable to connect from three-point territory after that, though, as Chicago was able to seal the game with four foul shots. 

Chicago took a 23-20 lead into the break, but CMS came out and jumped in front, with Horn making two straight baskets to give the Stags a 28-25 lead. The Maroons surged back ahead 34-30 on a Justin Jackson three-pointer, but CMS scored the next seven points, tying it on a layup from senior forward Ryan Kusch, and going ahead on a three-pointer from sophomore guard Mitchell Kirsch with 10:34 to go. 

CMS missed on chances to extend its lead, though, as the score stayed frozen at 37-34 for over three minutes, until two Schmitz foul shots got Chicago within 37-36. After the Maroons took the lead on a three-pointer, junior guard Miles President tied it at 39-39 with 5:46 to end the Stags' scoring drought, but the Maroons were able to use the key 6-0 run in the closing minutes to earn the win. 

The Stags will be back in action tomorrow afternoon in the consolation game of the Midway Classic, with the opponent determined following today's second semifinal.