CMS Men's Basketball Captures Senior Day Win over Cal Lutheran

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team honored its five seniors prior to the game and then held off Cal Lutheran for an 80-70 win on Wednesday evening in the regular season home finale for the Stags at Roberts Pavilion.

Josh Angle had 21 points on 9-13 shooting, and Rhett Carter added 18 points and provided a key sequence with two baskets and two blocks in the span of less than two minutes after Cal Lutheran tied the score late in the second half. With the win, CMS improves to 15-5 overall and 10-4 in the SCIAC, while Cal Lutheran slips to 15-7 overall and 8-7 in league play. 

Seniors TJ Askew, Charles Meng, Sam Johnson, Luke Webb and Alec Sinek were honored in a pregame ceremony as part of Senior Day. Askew was injured in a loss to Caltech last week, and was unable to play in a loss to Chapman, but provided a spark in his return with 11 points, while Johnson added 10 on 5-6 shooting. Junior Kiran Kruse added 11 points to give the Stags five players in double figures. 

CMS led most of the way, but it was never more than five points until Angle connected on a three-pointer with 10:04 to go to give the Stags a 61-53 lead. Cal Lutheran, though, called a timeout and responded with the next eight points to tie the score up at 61-61 with 7:47 left. 

Carter then swung the momentum back single-handedly, knocking down a jumper with 7:23 left to give the Stags the lead for good. He then blocked a shot from Mason Johnson (22 points) on a drive, and hit another jumper with 7:00 left to make it a 65-61 CMS lead. After he grabbed a defensive rebound, and Cal Lutheran got the ball back, he thwarted a Cal Lutheran layup attempt from behind with 6:00 left, and Askew converted two foul shots to make it a 6-0 run and a 67-61 lead. 

The Kingsmen got back within two points, but Askew and Johnson each hit baskets from nearly the same spot on the right side of the lane, both off assists from Matt Meredith, to restore a six-point lead, and Meredith made six straight foul shots to help seal it. 

Brian Kenyon added eight assists for CMS, which had 21 assists and only six turnovers as a team on the night. The Stags also shot 30-56 from the floor (53.6 percent) in one of its most efficient offensive performances of the year. 

CMS will be back in action on Saturday when it faces Pomona-Pitzer in a road game at Roberts Pavilion at 5 p.m., before ending the regular season at Redlands on Monday. The Stags will then host a SCIAC Quarterfinal round game on Wednesday against an opponent to be determined.