Stags Hold On Late to Defeat Poets

The men's basketball team held on late to defeat the Whittier Poets 72-66 Wednesday and moved in to a four-way tie for second in the league. The Stags amassed double-digit leads in each half, then nearly squandered each, before recovering with some clutch defense and timely free throws.  CMS improved to 12-5 overall and 4-2 in SCIAC while Whittier dropped to 10-7 and 4-2.

The game stopped frequently for free throws and substitutions because the referees called an amazing 55 fouls in the game. Michael Bagby (JR, Coupeville, WA) picked up two fouls in the game's first two minutes and had to go to the bench. Chris Blees (SO, Carmichael) and Jason Toney (SO, Yorba Linda) each picked up three fouls in the first half and both of CMS' big men, Tejas Gala (SR, Arcadia) and Patrick Lacey (SO, Orangevale), fouled out late in the contest.  Even Stags coach Ken Scalmanini got in on the action, drawing a technical foul in the first half.

When the game was flowing, the Stags were making runs. Early on the Stags took a 21-11 lead, but Whittier countered with a 10-0 run to tie the game. The Stags went ahead by 18 points, 64-46, with under seven minutes to go, and the outcome looked set. Over the next six minutes, however, everything would go right for the Poets; turnovers, missed free throws and bad shots by the Stags and some clutch shooting by the Poets, including an implausible alley-oop dunk that had most of the home crowd applauding. With the score at 67-65, Gala fouled out attempting to take a charge. Kenneth Albritton had a chance to tie the game, but could make only one of two free throws.  Bagby made two free throws with nine seconds to put CMS up by three and the Poets would have no words for what happened next.  A miscommunication in the backcourt resulted in a Toney steal and the effective end of the game.

After the loss to Pomona-Pitzer where the Sagehen bigs registered ten blocks, Scalmanini has been tinkering with the Stag offense, bringing the post away from the basket and putting the ball in the hands of CMS' best attacking players with the free-throw lane wide open. Toney [pictured] led all scorers with 17 points and four steals. Austin Soldner (SR, North Richland Hills, TX) scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked two shots. Patrick Lacey was particularly effective opening things up off of the pick-and-roll, scoring 10 points and grabbing four rebounds. While he was in the game, CMS outscored Whittier 48-27.

CMS will complete the first half of its SCIAC schedule at Caltech (Pasadena, CA) on Saturday night. The Beavers have struggled so far this season and sit in last place with six losses and no wins. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.