Stags Win SCIAC Tournament Title

CMS beat cross-street rival Pomona-Pitzer 56-44 on Saturday night to add the SCIAC Tournament title to their regular season SCIAC Championship. CMS improved to 21-6 and earned the SCIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.  The tournament bracket will be announced on Monday morning.

Playing before a packed house in the friendly confines of Ducey Gymnasium, the Stags used a series of offensive runs to take control of the game and held the Sagehens to 15% shooting from the three-point line.  CMS used a 12-0 run early in the first half to build up a nine point lead and after Pomona-Pitzer cut the lead back to four went on an 8-0 run to go up 12 before finally leading by 10 at the half.

CMS eventually built their lead up to 15 in the second half and the teams traded offensive runs, but the Stags never led by less than six in the half.  Pomona-Pitzer cut the lead to seven with an 8-0 run, the Stags countered with a 5-0 run and the Sagehens came back with a 6-0 run to cut the lead to six with under three minutes.  CMS sealed the victory with a 9-0 over the next two minutes.

Chris Blees (SO, Carmichael) had his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.  He also led the team with three assists.  Jason Toney (JR, Yorba Linda) led the team with 14 points and added three steals.  Conner Faught (JR, Agoura Hills) had 10 points.  Tejas Gala (SR, Arcadia) added nine points off the bench including five for five from the free throw line.

Pomona-Pitzer struggled to find the range behind the arc as four of their players, who combined to make 142 threes on 44% shooting during the season, combined to go zero for 16 tonight.  David Liss led the Sagehens with eight points, but only shot three for 16 from the floor and had six turnovers.

CMS will compete in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the ninth time in their history.