Box Score CLAREMONT, Calif. - Despite a game-high 21 points from sophomore Joe Stabach (Staten Island, N.Y.), the Mount Saint Mary College men's basketball team lost the opening game of their California swing to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps by a final score of 74-55.  The 21st-ranked Stags improved to 11-0, while the Knights dropped to 5-4 overall.

Stabach hit on 4-of-8 from downtown and finished 6-of-11 from the field to lead the Knights.  Senior Kevin Milella (Floral Park, N.Y.) was the only other Knight to reach double figures, posting 11 points on 5-of-7 from the floor.

Fifth-year senior Chris Blees (Carmichael, Calif.) led Claremont with 18 points on 7-of-9 from the field.  He also tied for the team lead in rebounding with seven.  Senior Joseph Anderson (Lafayette, Calif.) also grabbed seven rebounds and pitched in with 13 points (4-of-6 from the field, 5-of-5 at the line).  Sophomore Remy Pinson (Rye, N.Y.) also reached double figures with 10 points.

The Stags shot 44.8-percent fom the field as a team and connected on 18-of-24 from the line.  They dominated the Mount on the glass, racking up a 46-27 advantage.  The Knights shot just 36.7-percent from the field and 12-of-22 at the line.

Mount Saint Mary will make a quick turnaround, heading to Pasadena to take on the California Institue of Technology on Tuesday, January 3.  The game is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.