Claremont, Calif. - The Pomona-Pitzer Men's Basketball team led 18-2 early after making its first seven shots, withstood a Cal Lutheran comeback, and regrouped to pull away late for a 75-64 win in the SCIAC opener for both teams on Wednesday evening at Voelkel Gymnasium.

Junior guard Kyle McAndrews (pictured) led the way with 23 points on 11-17 shooting for the Sagehens, two shy of his career high set Friday against UC Santa Cruz, as Pomona-Pitzer improves to 4-2 overall (4-0 against NCAA Division III teams) and 1-0 in the SCIAC. Cal Lutheran suffers its first loss and falls to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in league play.

Pomona-Pitzer led by just three points after the half (35-32) after leading by 16 points early, and Cal Lutheran took its first lead of the game with 15 minutes left on a jumper from Arik Smith, making the score 44-43.

The teams traded baskets until with the score tied 49-49, senior guard Xavyr Moss made two foul shots on one possession and one of two on the next to give the Sagehens the lead for good at 52-49 with 10:46 left. Senior forward Jake Klewer (11 points, 12 rebounds) then had a put back to stretch the lead to 54-49 with 10:11 left, and after an exchange of baskets, Klewer had a dunk and Moss hit a three-pointer to push the lead back up eight (61-53) with 5:41 to go.

McAndrews hit a jumper and a driving layup to push the lead up to 11 points at 67-56 with 2:41 left to seemingly give the Sagehens control, but Cal Lutheran had one final rally, pulling back within 68-64 on a Dan Wade three-pointer with 36 seconds left. John Weiss hit one of two foul shots, though, and Klewer pulled down a defensive rebound, got fouled and made two more free throws to seal the win.

Pomona-Pitzer made its first seven shots and its first two free throws to take early leads of 10-0 and 18-2, capping off the spurt on a three-pointer from freshman guard Nick Nordale. Cal Lutheran, though, was able to hang in and use a late run at the end of the half to pull within 35-32 at intermission.

After a jumper in the paint from sophomore forward Gibson Farone-Collins made the score 28-14, Cal Lutheran went on an 8-0 run to close within 28-22 on a jumper from Guy Lynott, and after McAndrews stopped the bleeding momentarily with a lay-up, Arik Smith and Wade hit back-to-back threes to pull the Kingsmen within 30-28 before the Sagehens settled for a 35-32 lead at the break.

Klewer added five assists and four blocked shots to go with his 11-point, 12-rebound double-double. Moss finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Nordale added 11 points to give the Sagehens four starters in double figures. Smith led Cal Lutheran with 18 points and six assists.

Pomona-Pitzer will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to Cal Lutheran for a 5 p.m. contest.