REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Basketball team created havoc for the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens Saturday night in an 81-72 loss inside Currier Gym.
The Bulldogs nearly pulled off the upset win but now drop to 8-7, 4-4 SCIAC and finish the month of January going 3-4, which included wins over Cal Lutheran, La Verne, and Occidental. They now sit 5th in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Standings, a game behind Cal Lutheran.
As a team the Maroon and Grey used their suffocating press to force 20 turnovers, while turning them into 17 points. They also shot 40% from the field, 34.5% from three-point territory, and 52.6% from the free-throw line. The difference on the evening came on the glass where the Sagehens held a 44-20 advantage, which helped them pour in 38 points in the paint.
Romeo Mays (Vallejo, CA) and Gunner Wooden (Canton, MI) combined to give the Bulldogs their only lead of the game three minutes in after a layup and three-pointer made the score 5-3. Seven in a row though by PP would swing the momentum putting them on top 10-5. Colin McCarthy (Redwood City, CA) though would bring the Bulldog faithful to their feet soon after knocking down a long-range bucket before seeing Sam Abere (Lake Oswego, OR) convert inside that tied things up.
Over the next 3:30 the Bulldog defense would stand strong allowing just two points to the Sagehens before Wooden would answer with a layup that tied things up at the 11:21 mark. Following an offensive dry spell, which saw UR trail by seven McCarthy and Neil Owens (Pasadena, CA) responded with a pair of triples that sparked an 8-2 run that pulled the Maroon and Grey within one at 24-23. After that it was back and forth over the final seven minutes, which saw Josh Himel (Jacksonville, FL) connect from long range, coupled with layups from Justice Marmara (Arlington, TX), Robert Power (Pacific Palisades, CA), and Abere. After the opening twenty minutes UR only trailed 39-32 at the break.
The Bulldogs allowed three baskets across the first 1:33 of the second half and found themselves trailing by eleven, 45-34. The largest deficit came at the 15:45 mark when they fell behind by thirteen. This lead wouldn't hold though as Mays would knock down a hook shot in the paint, helping spark a 10-2 run, which included layups from Power and Khair Jackson (Canoga Park, CA), a jumper from McCarthy, and a pair of free-throws from Owens. This pulled UR within five at 57-52 and they continued to battle as McCarthy continued to knock down big shots down the stretch, including a three with 7:12 left, that cut the deficit to four.
Six unanswered for the Sagehens after that would move the deficit back to double digits and despite Wooden knocking down a three and adding a trio of free throws over the final two minutes it wouldn't be enough to help Redlands come away with the win.
Owens led the Bulldogs with 14 points. Mays added 13 points with six rebounds and a pair of blocks, Wooden had a breakout game with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting in 19 minutes of action, and McCarthy finished with 11 points, which included three triples.
The Bulldogs now embark on a three-game road trip with their first test this Wednesday, February 2 at Whittier College beginning at 7:00pm.
