FREDERICK, Md. – The University of Redlands men's basketball team (24-5) saw their NCAA Tournament run come to a close Saturday afternoon in the second round against No. 17 Hood College falling 114-104.
The Bulldogs received their first points from Omari Ferguson (Chicago, Ill.) who made a three-pointer. Chozen Amadi (Richardson, TX) then found Lucas Gordon (San Marcos, CA) for the Bulldogs' second three and a 6-2 lead.
Hood, though, responded quickly with a layup and three-pointer that put them in front by one. Still trailing, Redlands came down and Jhace Boston (Bakersfield, CA) was able to get into the paint giving Redlands the 11-10 lead with 16:51 on the clock in the first half.
Three minutes later the Blazers were back in front, this time by six, 17-11, at the 14:17 mark. An 11-4 Bulldog run, though, pushed them ahead, 22-21, just three minutes later.
During the run Donovan Ware (Palmdale, CA) made a three off a Derek Sangster (Sunnyvale, CA) assist, Cam Brown (Bakersfield, CA) got out for a fastbreak dunk, Sangster hit a deep ball, and Ferguson converted on a three-point play.
With 8:20 on the clock the Bulldogs remained in the lead by one, 33-32, but the Blazers went back in front with 7:34 to play. They held the lead the rest of the half and grew to as many as eight before Redlands finished on a 7-2 run with Boston leading the charge with five points.
Following the strong finish to the first half, the Bulldogs conceded an 18-7 run over the first five plus minutes of the second period as they faced their largest deficit of 14, 74-60.
The double-digit lead was maintained, but at the 8:45 mark Gordon found Ferguson in the paint that cut the deficit to eight, 85-77. That layup was two of 28 points over nine minutes in which the Bulldogs outscored the Blazers by 13, 28-15.
Despite the valiant effort by the Maroon and Grey, they saw Hood respond taking a 10-point lead two minutes later, which they would hold as they sealed the win.
Ferguson finished with a season-high 26 points and added three assists and three rebounds along with a pair of steals. His two steals brings him to 72 on the season, the 10th-most in program history.
Gordon finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds but fouled out in 20 minutes. He ends his career as the program's second all-time leading rebounder and one of only three Bulldogs to eclipse the 700-rebound mark. His 104 career blocks keep him seventh all-time.
Hlywiak had 15 points thanks to another five made three-pointers. He finishes with 85 this season, the eighth-most in program history.
Boston also fouled out, but in 25 minutes. He had 14 points, eight rebounds, and six assists along with three blocks and three steals. His blocks push him into a tie for eighth with Michael Pappert (1979) with 45 this season. He will go into his senior season within 30 blocks of second place, Pappert who had 127 (1978-79).
Head Coach Eric Bridgeland will head into his seventh season five wins away from 100 with the Bulldogs.
