NEW YORK – For the third time in four NCAA Tournament games, the University of Redlands Men's Basketball team (25-5) found themselves leading or trailing by double-digits in the first half as they were unable to mount a second big comeback in a 75-65 Elite 8 road loss at No. 2 New York University (NYU) Saturday evening.
Just over six minutes into the game the Violets made their third three-pointer as they took their first double-digit lead, 13-2. The Bulldogs would fall behind by as many as 18 as late as the 2:30 mark of the first half.
A Dayvon Gates (Carson, CA) three off a Kendrick Currey (Manteca, CA) assist, however, started a 10-2 Bulldog run that reduced the deficit to ten, 33-23, at the break. Jhace Boston (Bakersfield, CA) had a big six points, and the U of R defense finished the half allowing only four points over the final 2:55.
A quick 7-2 run over the first two and a half minutes of the second half brought Redlands to within three possessions, 37-30, thanks to five Omari Ferguson (Chicago, Ill.) points.
NYU, though, extended their lead to 15, 53-38, with 11:29 remaining in the half. Coming out of a media timeout the Bulldogs missed two free throws before Lucas Gordon (San Marcos, CA) converted a three-point play to begin a final comeback attempt for the Maroon and Grey.
The UR comeback would consist of ten unanswered that cut the deficit to only five, 53-48, with 9:11 still to play as they went from down 15 to trailing by five in just over two minutes.
The Bulldogs would cut the lead to four on another two occasions, including with 3:02 on the clock, but the Violets finished off the final 2:26 on an 11-4 run as they closed out the win.
Ferguson finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. Currey again led the team in assists with six. He added 15 points and three rebounds as well. Gordon exited the game playing just 23 minutes, but he still managed a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bulldog season ends with 25 wins, which makes 2024-25 the second winningest season in program history as the 1960-61 season holds the record at 27. Head Coach Eric Bridgeland's 71 wins through four full seasons are the most for a coach in their first four seasons in program history. The previous record was 54 by Lee Fulmer from 1955-59.
Their three tournament wins triples the record from 1985 when they won their first NCAA Tournament game, though, this season is the first time winning an elimination game.
There are four new single-season individual records. Currey had 129 assists, the 10th most in program history. Boston and Gordon each blocked 36 shots, tying them for 11th most. Lastly Ferguson had 69 steals, 10th most.
Gordon moved into a tie for seventh place with 73 career blocks. He sits 44 out of third place held by Tyrone Wallace from the 1980s, 54 out of second place held by Michael Pappert from the 1970s and 80s, and 128 behind the record holder Matt Loretz from the 2000s.
Redlands will head into the 2025-26 season minus Currey, Chozen Amadi (Dallas, TX), and Nathaniel Johnson (Seattle, WA) as they will look to build upon this season's success.
