REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Basketball team (9-4, 1-3 SCIAC) trailed by 17 with seven minutes to play and cut it to two with a minute remaining, but their comeback fell short as they lost to Pomona-Pitzer 93-85 inside Currier Gym Wednesday night.
Things got off to a great start in the opening three minutes as UR led by five, 11-5, after Jhace Boston (Bakersfield, CA), Khyree Armstead (Mountlake Terrace, WA) and Cameron Brown (Bakersfield, CA) all scored.
The Sagehens would add the next six points to tie the game at 11-11, but Ivan Belkin (Encino, CA) was set up for a three off a Cameron Joseph (Fairfield, CA) feed that put the Maroon and Grey back on top less than :20 seconds later.
The remainder of the first half saw the two teams tied on eight different occasions the last coming at 37-37 before Sam Abere (Lake Oswego, OR) was assisted by Lucas Gordon (San Marcos, CA) on a last second jumper in the paint for a 39-37 halftime advantage.
The opening two minutes of the second half the two sides continued their back-and-forth as they were deadlocked early, but the Sagehens would start a 31-14 run that put them up by 17 with 8:12 on the clock.
Pomona-Pitzer held that lead as late as the seven-minute mark before Redlands started to pull the game back with five points from Robet Power (Pacific Palisades, CA) and four points at the line from Kendrick Currey (Manteca, CA) as Redlands pulled within eight, 75-67, with 5:24 still to play.
With 1:53 on the clock the Sagehens reclaimed their double-digit lead, 85-75, but Power would hit another three, drew a foul and made both at the line followed by Currey who grabbed a long offensive rebound and made a three to make it a two point game, 85-83, with 1:07 left bringing the Bulldog faithful to their feet.
That would be as close as the Bulldogs would get as the Sagehens went 8-for-8 from the line over the final minute to claim the win.
Power led all Bulldog scorers as he tied his career-high with 22 points (7-17 FG, 3-7 3FG, 5-7 FT) to go with six rebounds and two assists. The other three players in double figures were Currey with 17 points, Armstead with 16 points thanks to only one missed field goal attempt, and Boston with 10 points in only 19 minutes.
The Bulldogs will play their second consecutive home game this Saturday, January 13 at 5:00 p.m. as they host Occidental College in game one of a doubleheader with the women's team inside Currier.
