ORANGE, Calif. — Chapman men's basketball came back strong and defeated nationally ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 71-70 Saturday afternoon at home. The game was a massive momentum shifter for the program as the SCIAC postseason looms. Four Chapman starters including Jake Heberle (21), Scott Schulz (14), Cruz Billings (12) and Joe Keegan (10) all scored in double-figures combining for 57 of the team's 71 total points. 

Heberle played 38 of a possible 40 minutes and was virtually perfect from the field, going 5/6 from the field, 4/5 from behind-the-arc and 7/8 from the free throw line. He added another five rebounds and six assists. Chapman found themselves down by as many as 10 points in the first half, but roared back in the latter half of the second to eventually lead 66-65 with 3:37 to play in the second half.

Prior to the comeback, the Panthers were within one and let the lead balloon up to five, 65-60. Keegan knocked down back-to-back layups and earned a steal Dylan Mansour and Schulz knocked down a free throw each to give the Panthers a lead they would never relinquish. 

The back-and-forth game reflects how competitive the rest of the conference is heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. Chapman handed CMS just their second conference loss and second loss overall this season. The Panthers sit in the fifth spot tied with Whittier College. Chapman is 12-8 overall while Whittier is 13-7 overall. 

The Panthers will return home to play against the aforementioned Whittier team on Wednesday, Feb. 4.