REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Basketball team (11-2, 3-1 SCIAC) returned to Currier Gym Wednesday night where they overcame a double-digit deficit to beat the University of La Verne 88-84 in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) competition to open 2025.
At the 9:37 mark of the first half the Bulldogs found themselves down 18, 31-13, after the Leopards made their sixth three pointer of the half.
Still trailing by 15, 33-18, with 8:11 on the clock, the Bulldogs were able to close to within eight, 35-27, with 5:08 to play after Kendrick Currey (Manteca, CA) scored four points, Dayvon Gates (Carson, CA) and Nathan Mattera (Fontana, CA) with another two baskets and Lucas Gordon (San Marcos, CA) with a free throw.
Despite the strong run by the U of R, La Verne scored seven of the final nine points to go into the half up 13, 46-33.
In the first seven minutes of the second half Redlands allowed just eight points and went on a 15-8 run that pulled them within two possessions, 54-48. During the run Chozen Amadi (Dallas, TX) had five points, while Currey and Gates each put up four.
After the Leopards re-established their double-digit lead Currey found Gordon for a layup to cap off a run that brought them within two, 61-59, with 9:17 still to play.
The first lead of the game for Redlands since it was 1-0 came after Amadi scored five-straight following a Gordon block and a Currey steal.
La Verne then tied the game up for the final time at 71-71 with 4:44 remaining as Redlands would regain the lead :12 seconds later and maintained it for the final 4:32 thanks to eight made free throws.
The Bulldogs overcame a night where the Leopards' two best players combined for 68 points on 15-of-39 shooting from the floor, 10-of-16 from three, and 8-of-10 from the line with a balanced attack that included five players in double figures.
Gordon and Omari Ferguson (Chicago, Ill.) each finished with 19 point, while Gates added 18, Amadi 13, and Currey 10. Gordon also totaled a career-high 15 rebounds, tied a career-high with four steals, and added two blocks.
Following an off weekend Redlands will travel to Claremont, CA to faceoff with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Wednesday, January 15 beginning at 7:00 p.m.
