Barker's Career-High 36 Points Propel U of R Men's Basketball Past Whittier, 105-90

Photo Credit: Marissa Weiss
Photo Credit: Marissa Weiss

With the help of a career-high 36 points from first-year forward Griffin Barker (Kirkland, WA), the University of Redlands men's basketball team made it eight in a row with a 105-90 victory on the road against Whittier College in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) tilt on Saturday evening. 

Barker started the game out hot with the Bulldogs' first five points, including a three-pointer off a feed from senior guard Hass Berry (Riverside, CA). Although the Poets held a slight lead, Barker knocked down a free throw to knot the game up at 12-apiece four minutes in.

After senior guard Brittian Foster (Long Beach, CA) took the lead with a fast-break layup a minute later, the teams jostled back and forth for a few minutes. However, Barker caught fire with a pair of triples in the midst of a 13-0 run for Redlands. A layup from senior forward David Menary (Grass Valley, CA) ended the run, which put the Bulldogs up, 28-16, with just under 11 minutes to go before the break.

Later in the half, Griffin imposed his will in the paint with a pair of back-to-back converted and-ones to help the Maroon and Gray take a 43-27 advantage with 5:39 on the clock. In the last five minutes of the half, the Bulldogs curated a 20-10 run that extended the lead to 63-37 at the break. Barker remained locked in and drained two more three-pointers down the stretch of the half.

Out of the locker room, Barker dropped in the first five points for the Bulldogs, including another deep ball to make it 68-42 less than two minutes into the half.

Over the next 10 minutes, the Poets slowly chipped away at their deficit and came to within single-digits at 80-88 with 7:23 left in the game. Despite Whittier cutting the lead down to six, a layup from Menary pushed the lead back up to 94-84 with just under six minutes to go.

The Bulldogs maintained their double-digit lead with the aid of four more points from Barker and a triple from Menary to close out a 105-90 victory.

In addition to Barkers career scoring night, he also reeled in 11 rebounds and dished out four assists. He also knocked down a career-best six three-pointers. Menary shot an efficient 11-for-14 for 26 points, along with 12 points and six dimes, while Berry drained three treys on his way to 15 points and a pair of helpers.

Redlands concludes the regular season at home against the University of La Verne for Senior Night on Tuesday, February 25, at 7 p.m.