Pomona-Pitzer Edges CMS Men's Basketball 81-76 in Sixth Street Rivalry Game

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team fell behind by nine points with 12 minutes to go and couldn't come all the way back as it dropped an 81-76 decision to Pomona-Pitzer in a battle for first place in the SCIAC on Wednesday evening at Roberts Pavilion.

With the loss, CMS sees its seven-game winning streak snapped as it drops to 16-4 overall and 8-3 in the SCIAC. Pomona-Pitzer earns sole possession of first place in the SCIAC with the win, as it improves to 15-4 overall and 9-2 in league play. 

After the teams were tied 31-31 at the half, the offenses opened up in the second half, with Pomona-Pitzer using a 15-4 run to pull ahead 55-46 with 12:02 to go on a three-pointer from Matthew Eberle. 

Senior forward George Walker, sophomore forward Sam Johnson and junior guard Mitchell Kirsch had the next three baskets to close the gap to 55-52 with 9:58 to go, and after a Pomona-Pitzer basket, senior forward Maxwell Kirsch buried a three-pointer to make it a 57-55 game with 8:48 to go. 

Pomona-Pitzer guard Micah Elan hit three foul shots to get the lead to five, but Mitchell Kirsch hit a three-pointer to answer. After the Sagehens scored the next four points to get the lead to six, senior guard Miles President had a three-point play and Maxwell Kirsch hit a basket to get CMS almost all the way back at 64-63 with 5:29 left. 

Elan hit a clutch three-pointer to make it a two-possession game, but President responded with a jumper to close the gap to 67-65. Once again, the Sagehens answered the challenge and scored the next six points to go ahead 73-65 with 2:07 to go. 

A President three-pointer with 42 seconds left brought CMS within 77-74, but the Sagehens were able to get two foul shots from Adam Rees with 23 seconds left to go ahead 79-74. Mitchell Kirsch drove for a layup with 19 seconds left to make it 79-76, and after Pomona-Pitzer split two at the line, President missed a three-pointer under heavy defensive pressure with five seconds left with a chance to cut it to one, and the Sagehens were able to hang on for the win. 

CMS went into halftime tied at 31-31 thanks in large part to the efforts of first-year guard Josh Angle off the bench, who knocked down his first four shots, three from beyond the arc, to score 11 points. He ended the game with a career-high 15 points, while President led the way with 19 for the Stags and Mitchell Kirsch added 17, tying his career high set in his last game against Whittier. Senior forward Jeremy Horn was also in double figures with 10 points, while Kelbert led all scorers with 20 for Pomona-Pitzer. 

CMS will be back in action on Saturday when it hosts Caltech for a 5 p.m. contest at Roberts Pavilion.