TACOMA, WA – The University of Redlands Men's Basketball team dropped a heartbreaker Friday night, 84-83, to Pacific Lutheran University at the McArthur Classic hosted by the University of Puget Sound.
The Bulldogs got off to a slow start, remaining scoreless over the first 2:24, until Romeo Mays (Vallejo, CA) was able to get UR on the scoreboard after trailing 8-0.
At the 14:32 mark of the first half the Bulldogs tied the game at 12. Then by the midway point of the half the Bulldogs had turned an eight-point deficit into a 10-point lead, 26-16, after Khair Jackson (Canoga Park, CA) knocked down a three-pointer.
Redlands grew their lead to as many as 12 points with 9:17 left after Jackson converted a four-point play. After PLU closed the gap to get within six the Maroon and Grey responded with a 7-0 run and led by 13 with 6:33 left thanks to five points from Neil Owens (Pasadena, CA).
After a few small runs by the Lutes, the Bulldogs maintained a multi-possession lead at the half, 48-40.
Three minutes into the second half Redlands saw their lead cut down to one possession, 50-48. But they were able to weather the storm and immediately responded with seven in a row covering a 1:15 after Robert Power (Pacific Palisades, CA), Darne Duckett (Oakland, CA), and Nathan Anderson (Los Angeles, CA) all connected.
After some back-and-forth, Power converted a layup and Owens made a three with 12:42 left in the game, moving the score to 68-56.
Despite leading for a majority of the game, the Bulldogs saw it disappear quickly as the Lutes switched the momentum taking the lead with a layup. But that advantage only lasted for :22 seconds as Duckett would help give UR back the lead with a jumper.
The Bulldogs and Lutes managed to keep the game deadlocked at 79 and 83, but a PLU free throw would give them the edge at 84-83 with five seconds left. Redlands did have a couple looks for the game winner though getting off a pair of contested shots int he final seconds but neither fell allowing the Lutes to escape with the win.
Owens and Power each had a game-high 16 points and overall, five players were in double figures. Mays had 10 points, six rebounds, three blocks, and an assist. The Bulldogs committed only eight turnovers but were outshot 58.3% to 44.3%.
The Bulldogs get right back to action tomorrow, Saturday, November 20 at 6:00 p.m. as they play the hosts the University of Puget Sound.