Claremont, Calif. - Five players scored in double figures as the Pomona-Pitzer Men's Basketball team fought off a tough challenge from Caltech for a 72-56 win on Saturday evening.

Sophomore guard Kyle McAndrews (Seattle, Wash.) had 18 and junior forward John Weiss (Cleveland, Ohio) added 17 for Pomona-Pitzer, which improves to 12-7 overall and 7-4 in the SCIAC with the win. Caltech, which has been involved in several close games lately (including an overtime game with SCIAC co-leader CMS), falls to 1-19 overall and 0-11 in the SCIAC.

The Sagehens also got a big lift from freshman forward Joe Knight (Seattle, Wash. - pictured), who was playing in his second collegiate game after missing the first 17 contests with injury/illness. After starter Jake Klewer (Tucson, Ariz.) rolled an ankle 15 seconds into the game and did not return, Knight stepped up with 10 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes of work.

The final score may look lopsided, but the game was anything but, as Caltech led by 10 in the first half and took a 30-28 lead into the break. A lay-up from KC Emezie still had the Beavers ahead 50-47 with 10:40 left, and a pair foul shots from Ethan Boronson tied the game with 52-52 with 7:18 left.

McAndrews then had two straight lay-ups to give the Sagehens the lead for good, swooping in for one from the right side and then scoring again 12 seconds later on a fast break after a steal from sophomore guard Michael Cohen (Tarzana, Calif.). A jumper from Andrew Hogue out of a timeout brought Caltech within 56-54, but the Sagehens closed out on a 16-2 run.

A Cohen jumper in the paint started the run, and then Weiss slipped back door for a feed from McAndews to stretch the lead to 60-54. A pair of free throws from Xavyr Moss (Federal Way, Wash.) increased the lead to eight, and after an Emezie lay-up gave Caltech some hope at 62-56 with 3:19 left, McAndrews went backdoor for a feed from Weiss, and the Sagehens shot 8-8 from the foul line down the stretch.

Caltech started out the game 12-16 from the floor in the opening minutes, leading by as many as 10 points (23-13) on a Michael Edwards three-pointer. Knight scored with 11 seconds left in the half of a post feed from fellow freshman Gibson Farone-Collins to bring Pomona-Pitzer within 30-28 at the half, after the Beavers shot 14-23 (60.9 percent) in the first half.

Hogue finished with a game-high 21 points for Caltech, while Edwards added 15. Cohen had 12 points and seven steals for Pomona-Pitzer, while Moss rounded out the five players in double figures with 10.

Pomona-Pitzer will be back in action on Wednesday for a key road game against Chapman.