PORTLAND, Ore. – The University of Redlands Men's Basketball team (4-1) controlled the second half at Lewis & Clark Friday afternoon as they outscored the Pioneers by 14 helping them come away with a 72-66 win wrapping up their four game trip to the Pacific Northwest.
Chozen Amadi (Dallas, TX) got off to a fast start with five of the Bulldogs first seven points as they held an early 7-6 lead. Over the next 14 minutes though the Pioneers were able to hold Redlands to just eight points, while taking a double digit advantage, 27-15, with 2:52 remaining in the half.
Jhace Boston (Bakersfield, CA) made a three off a Thomas Hastings (Chandler, AZ) assist and Lucas Gordon (San Marcos, CA) scored inside the paint twice to make it an eight-point deficit at the half, 30-22.
In the opening five minutes of the second half Jake Hlywiak (Valencia, CA) and Hastings both knocked down triples and pulled the Bulldogs within one, 33-32.
Kendrick Currey (Manteca, CA) then made a pair of free throws for his first points of the season and Amadi scored his sixth point at the line to tie the game at 35-35. It was the first tie or lead for the Maroon and Grey since they led 7-6 with 16:01 on the clock in the first.
With under 11 minutes to play the Pioneers had retaken the lead, 46-42, before a 10-0 run gave the Bulldogs their largest lead of the game at six, 52-46. During this stretch Nathan Mattera (Fontana, CA) made a three, Hastings had an and-one, Currey picked up a basket, and Gordon finished a dunk.
That lead would be large enough as the U of R led for the final 9:50 thanks to six made free throws in the final :34 seconds.
Amadi had a game-high 19 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Omari Ferguson (Chicago, Ill.) posted a quiet 11 points as did Currey. Notably Redlands turned the ball over only nine times, added 21 points off turnovers, had 20 second chance points, and 34 points in the paint.
The Bulldogs four-game road trip comes to an end with a 3-1 record as they come home for their first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) game inside Currier Gym next Wednesday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. against Caltech.
