Despite a career-best performance by senior guard Pat Coffey (San Carlos, CA), the University of Redlands men's basketball team suffered a 62-77 loss to defending champion Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in the opening Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic (SCIAC) game on Saturday night in Claremont. Coffey poured in 33 points off of 10-for-16 shooting, including 6-for-8 from long range, but the rest of the Bulldog offense appeared cold against a lights-out Stag showing in the second half.

During the first half, Redlands faced a 12-point deficit with less than nine minutes to go. But a 14-3 run, which included an 11-point outburst from Coffey, put the Bulldogs right back in the game at 28-29 heading into the break.

However, CMS erupted in the second half to gain an early 16-point lead. The Maroon and Gray moved within seven points when Coffey hit back-to-back three-pointers, and then senior guard Breck Mahoney's (Chicago, IL) basket from long range made it a six-point game just minutes later. But, by shooting 69.2% in the second half, the Stags stymied any final efforts by the Bulldogs and handed them a difficult 62-77 loss.

Coffey led all scorers with his 33-point display. Junior forward Matt Dietrich (Phoenix, AZ) supplied seven points for Redlands.

Redlands shot 35.3% on the night but the Stags took control with their mark of 53.6%. The Bulldogs hit their shots from beyond the arc with a 10-for-22 showing, with Coffey connecting on six of his eight attempts. CMS also shot well from long range, earning a mark of 42.1% on 8-for-19 shooting. Redlands won the battle at the free-throw line with a 16-for-23 performance for 69.6%, compared to the Stags' clip of 60.0%.

The Stags gobbled up 18 more rebounds than Redlands, including six more on the offensive end.

The Bulldogs (4-8, 0-1 SCIAC) look to bounce back on Wed. when they head to Caltech for a 7:30 p.m. SCIAC game against the Beavers.