CLAREMONT — Deshun McCoy (Los Angeles) scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the first half and the Occidental College men's basketball team led for a good portion of the first 20 minutes, but Oxy and the 6-foot-4 forward eventually ran out of gas in their bid to Upset No. 15 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, losing 75-64 on Wednesday at Ducey Gymnasium.

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CMS went on a 17-9 run to close the first half with a 40-34 lead, then scored the first six points in the second, extending a double-digit cushion.

"We got stuck coming out. We were stuck on 34 (points) for too long," Occidental coach Brian Newhall said, adding that besides the offensive struggles to open the second period, he thought the Tigers played a solid game. "It was the second game in a row where we competed well."

The Tigers (7-10, 2-4 SCIAC) traded baskets with the Stags (16-1, 6-1 SCIAC) throughout the second and twice brought the game within 10 only to have their momentum spoiled quickly.

Nick Wright (Oakland) hit a three-pointer to cut the difference to eight with 6 minutes left, then CMS' Tyler Gaffaney answered with a three of his own on the next play. Jack Hanley (Seattle) knocked in a 15-footer with 2 minutes to play, bringing Oxy within seven, but CMS' Mani Maceira countered with a jumper at the other end to slow down the Tigers for good.

Chris Blees, three-time SCIAC Player of the Year, and Gaffney had 14 apiece to lead the Stags. Hanley, who played all 40 minutes, finished with 13 for Oxy.

Newhall said it would have been tough to beat the reigning Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions on their home court with the amount of firepower they have starting and coming off of the bench.

"We played one of our better defensive games and still gave up 75 points," Newhall said. "It makes it hard to defend when you bring five talented guys off of the bench like they do." CMS's bench scored 25 points compared to Oxy' 13.

Both teams shot the ball well from the field. Oxy was 52 percent on the game and CMS 61 percent.

McCoy, who scored just 21 points in his last three games combined, had his fourth highest point total of the season.

"I'm asked to do something different every game because every team in the SCIAC in so unique. I don't think it matters who scores. I'm scoring for Occidental not for me," McCoy said. "Tonight it was me. Tomorrow night it might be (Conrad Liebowitz) or (Hanley) or someone else."

Oxy returns home to play Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday at 7 p.m.

"Fortunately we have another chance against a good Pomona team on Saturday," Newhall said.