CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Basketball team (11-3, 3-2 SCIAC) dropped their first game in more than a month as they came up short, 99-97, at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action Wednesday evening.
It was a hot start for Omari Ferguson (Chicago, Ill.) and Jhace Boston (Bakersfield, CA) who had eight and four points, respectively to help the Bulldogs get out to a nine-point lead, 17-8, after six minutes of play.
The advantage was quickly reduced to two just over three minutes later. Ferguson and Dayvon Gates (Carson, CA), though, made back-to-back threes to reclaim an eight-point lead for the Maroon and Grey.
A 9-2 Stag run that stretched down to the 3:18 mark put the Bulldogs down by their largest margin of three. Ferguson, however, scored the final eight points for Redlands as he helped them take a 46-45 lead into halftime.
The strong finish to the first half turned into a strong start to the second for Redlands as Chozen Amadi (Dallas, TX) and Jake Hlywiak (Valencia, CA) both made three-pointers for a five-point U of R lead in the first minute.
Things started to turn in favor of the Stags though at the 16:47 mark when they scored in the paint sparking a 15-1 run over the next three minutes giving them a double-digit lead at 71-61.
Following a couple of strong bursts, the Bulldogs still found themselves down 11, 80-69, with 10:43 to play. Kendrick Currey (Manteca, CA) then found Amadi for the first of two triples. Those threes sparked a 15-2 run for the Bulldogs that concluded with a Ferguson fastbreak layup that put Redlands back in front, 84-82, with 6:35 on the clock.
In the final minute Amadi drew a foul and made both at the line as UR went ahead by one, 97-96, with :39 seconds left. CMS, though, drew two fouls and made three-of-four free throws down the stretch that sealed the win.
Ferguson, Amadi, and Boston combined for 70 points. Ferguson went for 21 in the first half and Amadi with 23 in the second.
Redlands returns to Currier Gym this Saturday, January 18 at 4:00 p.m. as they play game two of the doubleheader with the women's team against Whittier College.
