REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands men's basketball team will begin their NCAA Tournament against Susquehanna University at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland on Friday, March 6 at 12 p.m. pacific time.
How they qualified
The Bulldogs (23-4) come into the tournament as the No. 16 overall seed while the River Hawks (16-12) are the No. 48 overall seed.
Redlands earned the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (SCIAC) automatic qualifying (AQ) bid into the tournament, though, they would have still made it as one of the 21 at large selections.
Susquehanna earned the Landmark Conference AQ despite finishing sixth during the regular season. The River Hawks took down the No. 3, 2, and 4 seeds to win the tournament.
National rankings
The Bulldogs are one of the best offenses in the country, averaging 94.8 points per game (5th highest out of 405 teams). They allowed 77.4 PPG (249th) which gave them a scoring margin of 17.4 (5th).
Their offense shot 47.1 percent from the field (53rd), 35.8 percent from three (51st), and 72.1 percent from the free throw line (107th). They made 11.1 threes per game (10th) on 31 attempts (13th).
Redlands had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.43 (31st) and they forced 19 turnovers per game (11th). Additionally, they averaged 14.56 offensive rebounds per game (20th) and had a plus four rebound margin (84th).
The River Hawks rank in the middle of the country in most key statistical categories. They average 75.8 PPG (187th), allow 74.6 PPG (T-198th), and have a scoring margin of 1.2 (182nd).
From the field they shot 44.8 percent (146th), made 33.8 percent of their threes (139th), and made 71.1 percent of their free throw attempts (148th). Their free throws are notable as they make 17.1 on 24 attempts (29th and 37th) in comparison to 6.8 made threes on 20 attempts (285th and 327th).
Their assist-to-turnover ratio is 1.17 (128th) and they force 10.75 turnovers per game (354th). They do have one of the better rebound margins at plus 4.6 (72nd) as they rank in the top half in the country in offensive and defensive rebounding.
Records
Jake Hlywiak has made 76 threes, the 10th-most in single-season program history. His 76 made threes are the 22nd-most in the country. His 42.9 percent mark from behind the arc is 11th-highest.
Jhace Boston has 41 blocks, the 10th-most in single-season history. His total is 53rd-best in the country. He is also up to 97 career blocks, the eighth-most in program history.
Omari Ferguson has 68 steals, 11th-most in single-season history. His total ranks 20th in the nation. He holds a career 53.2 percent mark shooting, 11th in program history.
Lucas Gordon is seventh in program history with 102 career blocks. Co-fifth place Jim Bennett and Brett Grebing have 107. His 53.7 career field goals percentage is 10th, and his 699 career rebounds are third, only two back of Reggie Williams.
Second round
If the Bulldogs advance, they will play the winner of host and No. 17 seed Hood College or No. 50 seed Vassar College on Saturday, March 7.
