Scarlett Drops 32 to Lead Stags in Sixth Street Victory

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Michael Scarlett (CMC) went off for 32 points in a 72-60 victory for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team over the rival Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens on Wednesday night. After a slow start for both teams, the Stags started pulling away early in the second-half and led by as many as 17 points late, before claiming their second victory over the Sagehens this season. The victory extends the Stags' winning streak to 10 games.

In addition to Scarlett's stellar night, Kendrick Morris (CMC) finished the contest with a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.

There were some consistent themes throughout Wednesday's game. It was a clean game with only 18 fouls between the two teams and just nine total turnovers. Both teams also shot exceptionally well from beyond the arc. CMS posted a 10-21 mark (47.6%) from downtown while the Sagehens made eight of their 20 attempts (40.0%).

As mentioned, the game started out at a slow pace. After a Morris layup on the opening possession of the game, the only field goal for the next four and a half minutes came on a three from Scarlett. Pomona-Pitzer got on the board with 15:23 remaining in the half, but the slow scoring stretch continued. After nine minutes of play, the Stags held a 7-6 lead.

A steal from Miles President (HMC) started a breakaway for CMS. President wisely chose to pull the ball out and found an open Mitchell Kirsch (CMC) in the corner. Kirsch knocked down a three from the left corner to reinvigorate the crowd and put CMS up 10-6.

CMS grew their lead to as many as seven at 15-8 following a layup from Morris, but the Sagehens quickly pulled within two at 15-13 just two possessions later.

After a tip-in from Morris with two minutes on the clock, the Stags' lead was back to eight at 25-17. The Sagehens and Stags traded buckets for the final two minutes of the half, but CMS held a 30-23 at the break.

The scoring after the break quickly picked up with the two teams accounting for 20 points in the first four minutes of the half. After the back-and-forth stretch, CMS had grew their lead to 11 at 42-31.

The Sagehens clawed their way back and trailed 51-45, but seemingly every time Pomona-Pitzer made a shot, CMS answered back on the next possession. Leading by just six, CMS rattled off five-straight points thanks to buckets from Morris and Scarlett to bump the lead back to double-digits.

CMS continued to separate themselves and the Sagehens with strong scoring performances from Scott Lynds (CMC) and Scarlett. The duo combined for 31 points in the second-half with Scarlett dumping in 21 during the period. Both Lynds and Scarlett went 2-4 from downtown and Scarlett adding a 7-10 effort from inside the arc in the half.

Behind the scoring prowess of their frontcourt, CMS built their largest lead of the night at 17 points late in the half before claiming the 73-60 victory.

Scarlett's 32 points led all scorers on the night, but Pomona-Pitzer's Daniel Rosenbaum and Michal Elan each scored 19 points to lead the Sagehens.

Scott Lynds scored 16 points in the contest while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out three assists.

Of note, the game took just one hour and 24 minutes with CMS and Pomona-Pitzer combining to take just nine free throws.

The win moves the Stags to 11-1 in the SCIAC and pushes their winning streak to 10 games, dating back to 2017.

CMS will next take the court on Monday night when they travel to Occidental with first place in the SCIAC on the line for the second time in as many weeks. Game time slated for 7:00 p.m. at Occidental.