REDLANDS, Calif. – In a match-up between the top two teams in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings, the University of Redlands Men's Basketball (18-3, 10-2 SCIAC) team handled No. 20 California Lutheran University (CLU), 77-65, inside Currier Gym Saturday night extending their winning streak to seven-games, while moving into a tie atop the conference standings.
It was a back-and-forth start with neither team leading by more than two possessions until the 11:06 mark when Omari Ferguson (Chicago, Ill.) completed a personal 5-0 run putting Redlands in front 22-14.
The lead grew to double figures twice for the Maroon and Grey after tip ins by Kendrick Currey (Manteca, CA) and Lucas Gordon (San Marcos, CA). The U of R then started to take control after Chozen Amadi (Dallas, TX) hit two deep three-pointers within :45 seconds of each other as the Bulldogs went up 12, 34-22, with 3:17 remaining in the first half.
The Kingsmen cut the lead to double digits before Ferguson and Gordon each scored a pair of buckets to finish off the half up 13, 39-26.
At the 15:00 mark of the second half CLU was forced into a timeout after Donovan Ware (Palmdale, CA) scored five points in :18 seconds making it a 20-point game for the first time.
Over the next minute and a half the Kingsmen scored nine unanswered points to get back within four possessions. But the Bulldogs, though, came right back with a run of their own scoring nine straight moving the score to 61-41 with 7:17 to play.
CLU once again cut the deficit to 11, 65-54, after a three following a Redlands turnover with 4:09 on the clock. But the Bulldogs would finish the game off thanks to a three by Amadi and made free throws by Gordon, Currey, and Jhace Boston (Bakersfield, CA).
Ferguson finished with a game-high 22 points and added six rebounds and five assists. Amadi and Currey each had 13 and 11 points, respectively.
The Bulldogs go back on the road next Wednesday, February 12 as they travel to the University of La Verne beginning at 7:00 p.m.
