REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Basketball team forced 23 turnovers and used an unrelenting press all night but couldn't complete the comeback inside Currier Gym in a 77-69 loss to the University of La Verne.
With the loss the Bulldogs drop to 9-10, 5-8 SCIAC, have lost four of their last five and currently sit in 6th place within the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Standings.
Redlands shot 33.3% from the field, 28.1% from three-point territory, and 66.7% from the free-throw line. They totaled 34 rebounds, forced 23 ULV turnovers, while turning them into 17 points, added 14 second chance points and received 24 points from the bench.
Four Bulldogs recorded double digit scoring efforts led by Neil Owens (Pasadena, CA) who put up 14 points in 31 minutes of action. Sam Abere (Lake Oswego, OR) had his breakout game of the season with 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting along with four rebounds and three steals, playing 27 minutes. Josh Himel (Jacksonville, FL) was deadly from deep as he totaled 12 points going 4-of-9 from three-point territory. Off the bench first year Gunner Wooden (Canton, MI) recorded a double double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
It was a strong start for the Maroon and Grey in the first half leading 11-5 over the first eight minutes behind an Owens triple, a pair of layups from Khair Jackson (Canoga Park, CA), and a couple jumpers from Abere, La Verne though battled back to take their first lead at the 10:16 mark following a triple from Tavares James. After that it was back and forth the rest of the half. ULV held a three-point lead at the 6:53 and 5:40 marks, but saw that advantage go away as Himel would knock down a three-pointer that tied things up.
UR held a three-point advantage with 1:15 left after a Jackson jumper and free-throw. But again La Verne was able to answer on their next possession with Paul Antonis adding a trio of free-throws tying the game up at 31-31 heading into the break.
The second half ULV came out hot shooting 60% from the field and 80% from deep as they outscored the U of R 46-38. A quick 9-3 run by the Leos opened the half up at 40-34. Redlands was able to keep it close after that with Nathan Anderson (Los Angeles, CA) adding a tip-in followed by a Jackson free-throw. But with 13:30 to play ULV started to extend their advantage scoring eleven of the next fourteen points to move the deficit to double digits 56-42.
Owens created some pushback heating up from the floor with a three-pointer and layin making it an eleven-point game. Wooden then knocked down a triple from dead on and converted an and one that kept the momentum for UR as they would get within single digits with 6:25 left. Trailing 66-53 with 3:20 left Redlands put together a comeback not going away without a fight. Abere sparked the run with a three-pointer and layup and was followed by an Owens free-throw, a Himel triple, and a layup and two free-throws from Ben Peterson (El Segundo, CA) that made it a six-point game. But the push would come up short as ULV would convert three free-throws to secure their first conference win on the season.
Redlands returns to the court this Saturday, February 12 on the road when they take on Cal Lutheran University beginning at 2:00pm.
