REDLANDS, Calif, - Down by as many as 22 points inside Currier Gym Friday evening, the University of Redlands Men's Basketball team (22-4) fell two points short of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS), 89-87, in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Tournament Semi-Final.
The Bulldogs got off to a good start, leading 4-1 after two early buckets by Omari Ferguson (Chicago, Ill.). CMS responded with a 6-3 run before Nathaniel Johnson (Seattle, WA) converted on a three-point play putting UR in front 10-7 four minutes into the game.
The lead lasted as late as the 14:11 mark when Dayvon Gates (Carson, CA) got out on the fastbreak for a 12-10 lead. From the 13:47 mark down to the 3:53 mark the Stags outscored the Bulldogs 32-8 going in front by 22, 42-20.
Redlands cut the deficit to five thanks to a three by Chozen Amadi (Dallas, TX) and a layup for Jake Hlywiak (Valencia, CA), but CMS would close out the half with eight of the final 11 points to take a 20-point lead, 52-32, into the break.
Over the first seven minutes of the second half the Bulldogs held the Stags to just three points and were within seven, 55-48, after Donovan Ware (Palmdale, CA) made back-to-back three-pointers.
A steal by Ferguson then set up an easy fastbreak layup that made it a two possession game, 58-53. CMS, however, had a 10-4 response to extend the lead back to double digits.
The lead grew to as many as 14 with 8:23 on the clock before the U of R made their biggest push, closing to within one, 86-85, on a Kendrick Currey (Manteca, CA)-assisted, Amadi three with a minute left.
The two teams traded layups with Currey looking to tie the game after drawing a foul on his made layup with :27 seconds left, but he would miss the ensuing free throw.
Despite the miss the Bulldogs forced a turnover on the next possession as the Stags stepped out of bounds, while trying to bring the ball across half court. After a 30-second timeout called by Head Coach Eric Bridgeland, the ball got into the hands of Currey who drove into the paint but was unable to finish.
A foul with nine seconds left sent CMS to the line up one with the chance to assure at least overtime with a three-point lead if they made both. They did not, though, and on the other end Amadi got a step back three for the lead that was wide right. The offensive rebound was collected by Ferguson, but time expired prior to his shot attempt.
Currey finished with 17 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Hlywiak, Amadi, and Ware made all nine of the Bulldogs' threes. Jhace Boston (Bakersfield, CA) provided a boost off the bench with 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Despite the loss the Bulldogs will make the NCAA Division III National Championships as an At-Large selection. Those selections and their regional will be announced on Monday, March 3. Full details will be posted on the website when available.
