REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands men's basketball team (22-4) cruised past Occidental College 100-76 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Tournament Semi-Final Friday evening inside Currier Gym.

The Bulldogs were down 17 in the first five minutes last time out against the Tigers a couple of weeks ago, but this evening they were out in front by 15, 19-4, after nearly five minutes of play. Jake Hlywiak (Valencia, CA) had 10 of those points, Austin Unegbu (Long Beach, CA) made a three-pointer and the trio of Lucas Gordon (San Marcos, CA), Omari Ferguson (Chicago, Ill.), and Jhace Boston (Bakersfield, CA) each added a pair of points.

Redlands' largest lead of the first half came in the final minute when a Boston block turned into a fastbreak layup for Unegbu as Redlands went into the break up 54-30.

Occidental opened the second half with a three pointer to cut the deficit to 21, but that would be the joint smallest deficit for the Tigers the rest of the way as the Bulldogs led by 20 plus the entire second half.

Hlywiak, Ferguson, Cam Brown (Bakersfield, CA), Boston, and Unegbu combined for 73 points and 10 made three-pointers.

Boston added five blocks, a new tournament record, which was three. Ferguson also had five steals, which also set the tournament record, though, Reid Jones of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) also tied that total tonight.

The 100 team points, 15 steals, and seven blocks (tied) are the most in tournament history.  

Redlands now prepares for the SCIAC Tournament Final at home on Sunday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m. as they host No. 3 Chapman University who defeated Claremont-M-S on the road in the other Semi-Final.