The University of Redlands men's basketball team officially embarked upon its season by hosting the No. 11 University of Texas – Dallas in the opening game of the 2019 Bulldog Tip-Off Classic in Currier Gym. After battling back from a 10-point deficit, the Bulldogs gained their first lead of the game with 14 seconds left in the second half. However, the Comets forced overtime and ultimately held on for the 74-71 result.
UT-Dallas came out firing and built a 21-12 lead midway through the first half, but the Maroon and Gray cut the deficit to three at 20-23 with an 8-2 run. Junior forward Parker Landolf (Alamo, CA) found his rhythm at just the right time by scoring all eight of those points for the Bulldogs. First, junior forward Spencer Bandow (Covina, CA) found him for the open three before senior guard Thomas Scriven (Anaheim, CA) dished out an assist on his jumper. Landolf halted the Comets' next possession with a steal and immediately drained a trey to make it a three-point game with 6:46 left in the first half.
Key free throws down the stretch kept the Bulldogs within striking distance, while junior guard Jack Roggin's (Toluca Lake, CA) tip-in made it 27-31 at the break.
The Comets maintained a single-digit lead through the 12:33-mark of the second half. However, UT-Dallas managed to stretch it to 46-36 to force the Maroon and Gray into catch-up mode.
Nonetheless, the Bulldogs responded over the next few minutes with poise and consistency by making the most of opportunity and sinking their shots. First-year forward Griffin Barker (Kirkland, WA) and sophomore forward Kameron Wright (Fontana, CA) each converted a bucket and a free throw, while Barker came up with two huge blocks. Roggin's layup with 9:21 left in the second half moved the home team within two at 46-48.
However, the Comets answered with a four-point swing to keep the Bulldogs at bay.
With 2:38 remaining, first-year guard Aiden Williams (Portland, OR) found Barker on the perimeter for a huge three-pointer before junior wing Gary Menary's (Grass Valley, CA) defensive board on UT-Dallas' ensuing possession led to a pair of free throws.
Down by two with 31 seconds to go, Menary delivered a dime of a pass to Roggin, who knocked down a huge three-pointer on the baseline to give Redlands its first lead of the game.
However, the Comets answered the call with a three of their own on the final possession of regulation to tie it up at 64.
In overtime, neither team scored for the first 80 seconds. The Bulldogs created an early lead on Roggin's layup and Menary's free throws, but UT-Dallas put together a 10-3 run to secure the three-point victory.
Jalen Weber led the Comets with 27 points, including five three-pointers.
For Redlands, Roggin tallied 18 points and 13 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, while Barker added 14 points and three blocks.
The Bulldogs (0-1) face Linfield College (OR) at 12 noon on Saturday, November 9, in Currier Gym.
