ORANGE, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Basketball team (10-5, 2-4 SCIAC) dropped their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) game at Chapman University 85-77 Monday evening as they were called for four technical fouls, which proved costly in the road match-up.
Ivan Belkin (Encino, CA) earned the start against CU and after making 7-of-10 three-pointers on Saturday against Occidental, he would come out and knock down a three in the opening minute of the game.
A couple of minutes later Kendrick Currey (Manteca, CA) converted an and-one to make it a 10-6 Bulldog lead.
Chapman would tie the game a couple times after that before taking a 17-16 lead on a three ball with 12:44 on the clock.
The Panthers then led 21-20 and with 11:40 left in the half Currey reclaimed the lead for the Maroon and Grey and started a 7-0 Bulldog run that put them up by six, 27-21, after Neil Owens (Pasadena, CA) made a three to cap off the run.
The rest of the half Redlands remained out in front by nine twice after Belkin and Lucas Gordon (San Marcos, CA) each connected from deep. Chapman though would end the half on a 22-4 run over the final 5:56 as they went out in front by nine, 51-42. During the final 2:50 Head Coach Eric Bridgeland would pickup two technical fouls and was ejected. Currey then received a technical foul, and the Panthers made all six free throws.
The Bulldogs allowed the opening basket of the second half before Sam Abere (Lake Oswego, OR) made a three off a Belkin assist. Abere then hit another three :32 seconds later after he picked up an offensive rebound making it a five-point game, 53-47.
Moments later another second chance opportunity fell to the Bulldogs when Belkin missed a three and Currey got the rebound and found him for another triple, which made it 53-51 Chapman only a minute after trailing by 11.
Despite the successful run, UR's defense allowed the Panthers to take another nine-point lead, 63-54, with 13:42 on the clock.
Then with 7:27 remaining and time dwindling, the Bulldogs found themselves down ten, 69-59. Currey, however, went to work and got a pair of baskets in the paint. Jhace Boston (Bakersfield, CA) then made two free throws, found Belkin for a layup, and Khyree Armstead (Mountlake Terrace, WA) tied it at 69-69 in less than three minutes.
The comeback would be for not as the Panthers were able to withstand the run and never trailed as they scored 16 of the final 24 points picking up the eight-point win.
Armstead continued his efficient play as he had a team-high 24 points (10-19 FG, 3-8 3FG) and seven rebounds. Belkin had 18 points (6-12 FG, 4-8 3FG, 2-2 FT) with a career-high of 12 rebounds and four assists.
As a team the Bulldogs earned 22 more field goal attempts thanks to 10 more turnovers forced, but a 35.4 percent mark from the field and a 49.1 field goal percentage allowed cost them.
Redlands returns home Wednesday, January 17 at 7:00 p.m. as they host the California Institute of Technology inside Currier Gym.
