CMS Beats Occidental In SCIAC Opener

CMS opened their defense of the last two SCIAC titles with a 57-50 home win over Occidental on Saturday.  The win was a total team effort as nine players played at least 10 minutes with all nine scoring.  Eight of the nine scored at least five points and no player scored more than nine.  The win was the team's third straight and improved their record to 5-6.  Occidental, which was one of two SCIAC teams with a winning non-conference record, dropped to 6-6.

The first half was evenly matched and the teams traded the lead five times.  Neither team led by more than four and CMS went into the half leading 21-19.  Both teams shot 33% in the first half with Occidental making one more basket, but CMS making one more three-pointer and two more free throws.  Deshun McCoy led the Tigers with eight points and Shane Davis led CMS with six points off the bench.

The Stags jumped on the Tigers early in the second half with an 8-0 run that put the team up 10 points.  CMS kept the lead the remainder of the half, leading by as much as 14 and never by less than six.  Nine players scored in the second half for the Stags with three players, Tyler Gaffaney, Remy Pinson and Beau Heidrich, each making two three pointers.  Jack Hanley had 14 second half points for the Tigers to keep them competitive, but McCoy could not match his first half as the Stags held him to only four points.  Joey Anderson (pictured) had a solid all-around game for CMS with six points, a team-high 10 rebounds and two steals and sharing the team lead with two assists.

CMS will be on the road for four of their next five games.  They play at Cal Lutheran on Wednesday, January 12 at 7:30.  Their next home game is against Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday, January 19 at 7:30.