Bench Turns the Tide as CMS Men's Basketball Defeats California Miramar 77-63

Bench Turns the Tide as CMS Men's Basketball Defeats California Miramar 77-63

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Senior forward Nicolas Segura Dobjanschi had 17 points and 14 rebounds, and the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps bench fueled a 16-0 second half run that turned the momentum as the Stags captured a 77-63 home win over California Miramar on Wednesday evening at Roberts Pavilion.

CMS also received 15 points and nine rebounds from junior forward Jeremy Horn as it held a 48-28 edge on the boards while improving to 5-3 on the season with the win. Cal Miramar drops to 4-6 with the loss, including two defeats to Occidental and one to Redlands against other SCIAC foes. 

The Stags held a narrow 33-28 lead at the break and seemed to be on the verge of taking control in the second half, as a Horn lay-up capped a 6-0 run and gave CMS its first double-digit lead of the game at 39-28.

After Horn answered a Cal Miramar three-pointer to make the score 41-31, the Fighting Falcons scored the next 14 points in a row to take a 45-41 lead and put the Stags back on their heels. Point guard Joel Garcia hit a three-pointer to give Cal Miramar the lead at 43-41, and he then fed Xavier Roy for a fast break layup to make it 45-41 with 14:27 to go. 

CMS put five substitutes at the table as Horn scored to end the drought and make it a 45-43 game, and the bench then kept the momentum going, continiung on with a 16-0 run to give CMS a 57-45 lead. Junior forward Maxwell Kirsch tied the score with a layup, then fed senior forward Ryan Kusch on a fastbreak to give CMS back the lead for good at 47-45 with 12:08 to play.

Kirsch then hit a three-pointer from the top of the key on a feed from junior point guard JD Levine, junior forward George Walker made two foul shots, and a three-pointer from Kusch with 8:27 left capped off the 16-0 run and made it a commanding 57-45 lead. 

Seugra Dobjanschi then helped finish off the win with four baskets in the final eight minutes, two of which came off offensive rebounds, as he picked up his fourth double-double of the season in eight games. He finished with seven of his 14 rebounds on the offensive end, helping the Stags pull down 22 offensive rebounds on the night (compared to only six from Cal Mirimar). 

Junior guard Miles President was also in double figures for CMS with 11 points, while having a solid all-around game with four rebounds, four assists, no turnovers, three blocks and two steals. The Stags ended the game with 23 bench points, led by eight points and seven rebounds from Walker, and five apiece from Kirsch and Kusch (all of which came in the 16-0 run). Roy led all scorers with 23 points for Cal Miramar. 

CMS will be back in action for its final game before the holiday break on Saturday, when it hosts Westmont at 5:30 p.m. at Roberts Pavilion. That game will see head coach Ken Scalmanini coach against his son, Kyle, a sophomore guard who is the leading scorer for Westmont at 15.8 ppg. The first family matchup was supposed to occur last year, but the game was canceled due to the Thomas Fire. The game will also be the first part of a doubleheader at Roberts Pavilion, as the CMS women's basketball team faces La Sierra at 7:30 p.m. in the nightcap.