Stags Basketball Splits Opening Weekend In Oregon

After a 76-67 defeat of George Fox on Friday, the CMS Basketball team fell 94-86 to Willamette on Saturday night. In each game the Stags fell behind early.  On Friday night they were able to rally for the win, but on Saturday the Bearcats were able to hold off the rally.

In the season opener against George Fox (0-1), the Bruins ran out to an early 21-9 lead thanks to some hot three-point shooting.  CMS soon found their flow on offense and their intensity on defense and ran off a 27-8 run over the next eight minutes to take a 36-29 lead. The Bruins opened the second half on a 11-4 run to pull the game within one point, but that was as close as they came. Conner Faught (SR, Agoura Hills) sank his third three-pointer of the night and Joseph Anderson (SO, Lafayette) threw down a thunderous dunk to spark a 10-point Stags rally and put the game out of reach. Faught, the Stags’ decisive sixth man, scored 22 points on 7-11 shooting, along with four steals and two assists, to lead the team. Chris Blees (JR, Carmichael) pitched in 16 points and seven rebounds. CMS did exceptionally well on the offensive glass, grabbing nearly as many offensive rebounds (15) as the Bruins had defensive rebounds (20).

CMS dug itself an early hole again on Saturday night, but this time they were unable to recover. Willamette (1-1), who excelled at scoring in transition, jumped out to a 14-5 lead within five minutes, and a 31-15 lead with eight minutes to go in the first half. CMS was not able to get the game close until the final minute when Blees hit a layup to bring the Stags within four points. However, the Stags were forced to foul and the Bearcats made their free throws down the stretch to seal victory. Blees scored 32 points on 14-25 shooting, his second highest college total, and added 17 rebounds and five steals. Michael Bagby (SR, Coupeville, WA) pitched in 20 points before fouling out. Shane Davis (JR, Vashon, WA), assuming an expanded role for the Stags after the departure of Austin Soldner pitched in five points and four rebounds.

The Stags will be in action in Claremont this Thanksgiving weekend in the David Wells Classic. They take on the UC Santa Cruz on Friday night and St. Olaf College (Minnesota) on Saturday. Friday’s game is at 5:00 pm in the Rains Center at Pomona, and Saturday’s game is at 7:30pm in Ducey Gym.