REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands men's basketball team (10-4, 2-3) overcame a slow start against Occidental College as they made 18 threes in route to a 106-80 blowout win inside Currier Gym Saturday evening.
The Tigers scored 22 points and held the Bulldogs to 16 points for nearly 11 minutes, but down six, 22-16, Khyree Armstead started a run all by himself, scoring 14 unanswered points as the Bulldogs took an eight-point lead, 30-22.
During the Armstead run, he scored four consecutive baskets in the paint before knocking down a pair of threes. Lucas Gordon assisted on two of the final three field goals while Kendrick Currey had the other assist.
Occidental drew a foul and made a pair at the line, but it was not enough for them to slow down Redlands as Currey found Robert Power for a three and Power returned the favor to Armstead who made a three for the first double-digit lead of the game, 36-24.
The closest the Bulldogs allowed the Tigers to get the rest of the half was nine before closing the half on a 23-10 run as the lead by 22 at the break, 59-37.
In the second half it was the Ivan Belkin show from downtown as he made three-straight threes after Jhace Boston opened the half with a jumper in the paint as the lead was nearly 30, 70-42.
At the 17:51 mark Belkin set up a three for Power as he made it a 31-point lead, 73-42.
The Tigers did make it a little more interesting with 10:07 still to play when they cut the lead to 21, 83-62, but Gordon connected on a pair of free throws and Power scored inside the paint to build the lead to 25.
The remainder of the game Occidental would never get within 20 as Redlands got their second Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) win of the season and their 10th overall.
Armstead had a big day with 25 points (10-15 FG, 3-6 3FG), tying his most as a Bulldog and he did it in only 19 minutes of action. Belkin had a career day as well, posting 23 points (8-12 FG, 7-10 3FG) with seven rebounds and two assists, all but the rebounds are new career best for the freshman.
The Bulldogs will play in two days as they travel to Orange to faceoff with Chapman University on Monday, January 15 with tipoff at 7:00 p.m.