THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Basketball team (5-2, 1-1 SCIAC) played the defending Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Champions close on the road Saturday night, but they would fall on a late three, 73-71.

This was a defensive battle early on as a Donovan Ware (Palmdale, CA) made a three off a Kendrick Currey (Manteca, CA) assist put the Bulldogs ahead 10-9.

At the 8:23 mark the Kingsmen converted on a three that put them ahead by their largest margin of eight, 23-15. The Bulldogs would respond with a Dayvon Gates (Carson, CA) tip-in and field goals from Ware and Chozen Amadi (Dallas, TX) as they the U of R pulled within a possession, 23-21.

Coming out of the half Omari Ferguson (Chicago, Ill.) got out on the fastbreak for the first points for Redlands. Those points, though, were two of only five points made in the first five minutes as Redlands found themselves down double figures for the first time.

The Bulldogs did not panic though, scoring the next 10 points to tie the game thanks to five points from Amadi, four for Lucas Gordon (San Marcos, CA), and three forced turnovers by the defense.

With 10:49 to play Ferguson picked up a steal and his play would turn into the first lead of the half for UR as Gates got to the rim giving Redlands a 49-47 advantage.

After a few lead changes over the next couple of minutes, Jhace Boston's (Bakersfield, CA) and-one made it 56-53. That lead would be seven on three different occasions and as late as the 5:26 mark when Currey scored.

Inside of two minutes to play in regulation, the Bulldogs held onto their lead, 69-68, but the Kingsmen's comeback put them ahead with 1:05 remaining.

Boston drew a foul with :35 seconds on the clock. He made the first to tie the game and then then second to take the lead.

CLU decided not to take a timeout after the second free throw and with :23 seconds on the clock they would come down and convert what would be the game-winning shot, a three-pointer. On the other end a last second, game-tying layup from Amadi would not fall as the Bulldogs fell in a nailbiter.

Amadi and Gordon were the lone players in double figures with 20 and 13 points, respectively. Overall, the Bulldogs matched the Kingsmen in most areas except the three-point line where they were minus nine and the free throw line where they were minus three.

Redlands remains on the road they head to Claremont for a match-up against Pomona-Pitzer on Monday, December 16 at 4:00 p.m.