REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands men's basketball team (17-7, 11-4) beat La Verne 96-57 during senior night inside Currier Gym on Saturday. The Bulldogs honored three seniors and graduate students Ben Peterson (El Segundo, CA), Cal Hansen (Burien, WA), and Colin McCarthy (Redwood City, CA). The trio combined for 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists.
In the opening half the Bulldogs were tied with the Leopards at two and four before they took a 10-point lead, 15-5, at the 12:11 mark. During the 11-1 run, Sam Abere (Lake Oswego, OR) scored two points, Khair Jackson (Canoga Park, CA) had four points, and Neil Owens (Pasadena, CA) had five.
In the middle of the half the Leopards cut the Bulldogs' lead to six, 17-11, with 8:45 remaining, but Josh Himel (Jacksonville, FL) came in and made three threes to help the Bulldogs extend their lead to 18, 31-13, following a 14-2 run.
The final points of the half came courtesy of Robert Power (Pacific Palisades, CA) who hit a three off an Owens' assist with 33 second left as the Bulldogs led by 29, 49-20, at the intermission.
To start the second half, Redlands allowed the opening basket to La Verne, but Peterson and McCarthy each made threes off assists from Hansen and Peterson as they took their first 30-point lead, 55-22.
The Bulldog lead got to its largest, 43, 86-43, with 8:37 on the clock after Cameron Brown (Bakersfield, CA) found McCarthy for another three.
Redlands would rotate more players in over the final eight minutes and finished off the win, 96-57.
Himel scored 18 points, one off his career high, on six made threes, a new career high. Joining him in double figures is Owens with 17, Hansen with 14, McCarthy with 11, and Khyree Armstead (Mountlake Terrace, WA) with 10. Overall, 11 different Bulldogs scored.
Redlands made 16 threes for the third time this season, they shot 53.3 percent from deep which is the best percentage this season. They are 8-1 when reaching 10 made threes and 9-6 when failing to reach double-digits. They are also 7-0 when shooting 40 percent or better from three and 10-7 when under 40 percent.
Redlands has one more regular season game, and it will be inside Currier Gym this coming Tuesday, February 21 at 7:00 p.m. against Occidental College.
