The Stags, stampeding their way through the season with records of 14-5 overall and 8-2 in SCIAC play, secured a 96-67 win against the Caltech Beavers on Feb. 1 at Robert’s Pavilion. Caelan Jones CG ’25 and AJ Rohosy CG ’25 led the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) men’s basketball team with double-digit performances. After a slow start, the Stags put on a show in the second half to run away with the lead.
The Stags opened the scoring, with Jones claiming the first points of the night from a fast break assist by Reid Jones CM ’27. CMS continued to overwhelm Caltech with a fast-paced transition offense but had trouble containing their shooters on the other side of the court.
“I think we came out a little slow, especially defensively,” Neil Owens CG ’25 said. “We let them get a couple buckets that we usually wouldn’t allow.”
Caelan Jones, who scored 32 points in Saturday’s game, agreed that, despite the 29-point win, the team still left the court with things to work on.
“I think our biggest thing right now is playing harder together as a unit for the second half of league, and just trying to do that collectively,” he said.
Entering the second half, the Stags brought a major shift in momentum. Reid Jones converted a steal into an assist to Rohosy, who slammed down the first dunk of the night and added to his total of 29 points. Reid Jones led the team with six steals, forcing turnovers and creating opportunities on offense, which earned him SCIAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Will Householter CM ’27, who sank three of the Stags’ seven three-pointers against the Beavers, explained what the win meant for the team.
“We really kind of clicked in the second half, which was great,” Householter said. “It was fun to see all the guys that worked hard in practice get on the floor too. It was a good game for us because hopefully we can carry its momentum. Even though [they’re] not the best team we’re gonna play, still a sizable win.”
The dominant win over the Beavers came after a double-overtime 72-71 defeat of Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) the week prior. The intense rivalry victory gave the Stags momentum going into the rest of the season, helping some players feel prepared to face the Sagehens again next week.
“That game was all heart,” Caelan Jones said. “That is what the second half of league is going to be, and hopefully playoffs and further tournaments down the line. It’s all going to be who wants it more. So those games are super important.”
Early season success bodes well for the Stags’ playoff hopes and expectations, which are high after the team’s record-breaking run in last year’s NCAA tournament. CMS advanced to the Sweet 16 — the furthest in program history. According to Caelan Jones, the Stags are trying to focus on this season and use last year’s results to their advantage.
“I think it’s a pressure that we want because we have those similar expectations for this season as well,” he said. “It raises everyone’s bar.”
According to Householter, some losses early on helped alleviate the pressure of trying to replicate last season. He said that these losses were key in helping the team shape its approach to the new year.
“I think losing those games actually took a lot of the pressure off,” Householter said. “It was like all right, we don’t need to live up to the standard of the team before us, we’re our own team, a brand new group. So it was kind of about finding our identity within those lost games.”
With eight SCIAC wins under their belt, the Stags are poised to take on the second half of the season. And Householter claimed that while a conference championship is “goal number one,” he also has larger ambitions for the team.
“I really think we have the talent and the unity of this group to go further than that,” he said. “Why not set your eyes on the national championship?”
The Stags recorded their second conference loss against Redlands on Wednesday, Feb. 5, and will continue SCIAC play at Whittier on Saturday, Feb. 8.
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