REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Basketball team (7-2. 2-1 SCIAC) made it two in a row using a strong first half to hold off UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) 91-85 in their final home non-conference game of the season Wednesday afternoon inside Currier Gym.
Redlands lead by only one after five minutes before Thomas Hastings (Chandler, AZ) drew a foul and made both of his free throws sparking a 9-0 Bulldog run, which included five points coming from Jhace Boston (Bakersfield, CA).
Over the next minute, Chozen Amadi (Dallas, TX), Logan Dorsey (Los Angeles, CA), and Jake Hlywiak (Valencia, CA) all scored to stretch the lead to 16, 34-18.
UCSC closed the gap to 11, 44-33, with under two minutes to play in the opening half, but Redlands picked up a pair of free throws from Kendrick Currey (Manteca, CA), a free throw from Lucas Gordon (San Marcos, CA), and a three by Hlywiak as the U of R went into the break leading by 17, 50-33.
Eight of the first 10 points of the second half came from the Maroon and Grey as they held their largest lead of the game at 23, 58-35, with 16:37 on the clock. Omari Ferguson (Chicago, Ill.), Boston, Hlywiak, and Dayvon Gates (Carson, CA) all were able to finish.
The 20-point lead was maintained by the Bulldogs down to the 11:22 mark when Boston converted twice at the line. The Banana Slugs, though, would mount a comeback inside the 11-minute mark pulling within eight, 80-72, with 5:12 left.
UCSC would then get within four, 84-80, thanks to an and-one with 1:23 on the clock, but Redlands would be able to hold off the comeback closing out the win with five free-throws down the stretch.
Boston posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Hlywiak (18), Ferguson (12), Gordon (11), Amadi (10), and Currey (10) also reached double figures as well. Hlywiak knocked down four triples going 7-of-13 from the field and Currey also picked up eight rebounds.
The Bulldogs shot only 37.1% percent from the field, but they were plus 24 combined points from the three-point and free throw lines.
Thei final three games for Redlands of 2024 will come in Las Vegas at the D3hoops.com Classic as they play Hardin-Simmons University (Dec. 27), University of Mount Union (Dec. 29), and SUNY New Paltz (Dec. 30) at South Point Arena from December 27-30.
