REDLANDS, Calif. - The University of Redlands Men's Basketball team opened up their 2022-23 season Wednesday night inside Currier Gym leading by as many as nine in the first half and holding a 42-38 lead at the break against No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor, but would eventually fall 92-82.

The Maroon and Grey opened up the scoring courtesy of Cal Hansen (Burien, WA) and that would spark the Bulldogs tallying 14 of the first 19 points, which put them on top 14-5, capped off with a triple from Chozen Amadi (Dallas, TX). 

Following a run by the Crusaders that made it a three-point game, Sam Abere (Lake Oswego, OR) was setup by Amadi for a three and Nathaniel Johnson (Seattle, WA) followed with a two-handed jam off another Amadi assist as the UR lead expanded to eight, 19-11. 

UMHB was able to weather the storm and put together another run, this one that swung the momentum putting them on top for the first time 26-24.  Neil Owens (Pasadena, CA) followed with a jumper that tied the game and Josh Himel (Jacksonville, FL) would put UR back on top with a three-pointer with 8:19 left in the half.  This triple was a part of a 13-2 run for Redlands as they reestablished a nine-point lead.  Down the stretch Johnson made a jumper, off a feed from Colin McCarthy (Redwood City, CA) and then knocked down a free-throw giving the Bulldogs a four-point lead into the half. 

Owens opened up the second half with three free throws after getting fouled on an attempt coming within the first :11 seconds. UMHB then regrouped and rallied for fourteen of the next seventeen points to take a 50-47 lead.  Towards the midway point of the second half the Bulldogs found themselves down six, 59-53, but again Owens would deliver with another three-pointer that cut the deficit to three.  It then became a two-point game, 61-59 after McCarthy found Himel in the corner for a triple.    

Ten straight by the Crusaders that spanned three minutes would extend their lead to thirteen with 5:17 left.  Khyree Armstead (Mountlake Terrace, WA) and Owens would spark a 6-0 run, which included a dunk and a jumper to get UR within seven, 75-68, but again Mary Hardin-Baylor would string together seven in a row that put the game out of reach.    

The Bulldogs knocked down 14 threes and had 20 assists on their 27 made field goals. Their bench was instrumental to their success as they scored 35 points, 11 more than the Crusaders' second unit. Where the Bulldogs got hurt, came in the paint where they were outscored by 22, 42-20, while shooting 37% from the field in comparison to the 49.3% by UMHB.

Owens finished with a team-high 24 points and was joined by Himel and Armstead who had 11 and 10 points respectively. Overall, the Bulldogs had 13 different scorers.

The Bulldogs have a quick turnaround with a home game against UC Santa Cruz this Friday, November 11 at 7:00 p.m. inside Currier Gym.