Pomona-Pitzer Beats CMS Men's Basketball to Even Season Series

CLAREMONT, Calif. - In a back and forth matchup that featured six ties and five lead changes, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's basketball team was unable to comeback in the final moments, dropping a 76-67 decision to Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday evening at Roberts Pavilion.

With the loss, CMS fell to 15-6 overall and 10-5 in the SCIAC. Pomona-Pitzer earned sole possession of second place in the SCIAC with the win, as it improves to 17-4 overall and 13-2 in league play. 

Josh Angle recorded a game-high 24 points to lead CMS, making 5-of-7 shots from three point range and 5-of-6 attempts from the free throw line. Sam Johnson finished with 12 points off the bench while Matt Meredith added nine points, five rebounds, two steals and a block. 

Both teams had double digit leads on the night, the largest being 10 for each unit. The Stags led 28-18 with 6:12 remaining in the first half after an Angle three-pointer, followed by a Max McCalla lay-up. However, the Sagehens were able to close out the first half on a 18-7 run to end the period, taking a 36-33 lead at halftime. 

Kiran Kruse made a three-pointer with 11:22 remaining in the second half and Angle added a three on the following possession to give CMS a 48-46 advantage with just over ten minutes left in the period. Pomona-Pitzer then countered and started to make long distance shots of their own, grabbing a 59-52 to lead, capping a 13-4 run for the Sagehens once Brendan Mora made a three-pointer with 6:05 left.  

An Angle three-pointer with 50 seconds left brought CMS within five, 71-66, but a Joe Cookson made a free-throw, followed by Matthew Eberle making a pair with 21 seconds left, gave the Sagehens a 74-66 advantage and they were able to hold on to split the season series at 1-1 after CMS defeated Pomona-Pitzer on Dec. 4 earlier on in conference play.  

CMS will be back in action on Monday when it travels to take on Redlands for a 7 p.m. contest to conclude the regular season.