The University of Redlands men's basketball team faced off against a much improved Caltech squad that had lost its previous two contests by a combined three points while searching for its first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) win in more than two decades. The Bulldogs held on to a first-half lead and stepped up to the hype by earning a 75-67 victory over the Beavers earlier tonight in Currier Gym.

After a tight opening 10 minutes, Redlands rattled off 16 unanswered points to garner a 12-point lead. Sophomore guard Tristan Kirk (Redlands, CA) opened this run with six consecutive points before senior forward Matt Dietrich (Phoenix, AZ) nailed back-to-back three-pointers for the Maroon and Gray.

Redlands saw its 13-point halftime advantage shrink to four points when freshman guard Todd Cramer (Ambler, PA) scored eight of his 11 points in an eight-minute span.

However, this was as close as Caltech would get as the Bulldogs successfully mounted another double-digit lead that lasted through the final minute.

Dietrich scored a team-high 16 points while also dishing out seven assists for the Maroon and Gray. Senior center Jordan Sanvictores (Redwood City, CA) added 13 points and nine rebounds, while senior center Andrew Mills (Newcastle, WA) finished with a double-double on 12 points and 10 rebounds. Kirk chipped in 11 points and six boards.

Caltech (4-16, 0-9 SCIAC) boasted four players in double figures, with sophomore forward Mike Edwards (Canyon Country, CA) leading the Beavers' effort with 19, which included three buckets from long range. Senior forward Ryan Elmquist (Woodbury, MN) added 17 points and five rebounds, while freshman guard Mike Paluchniak (Oostburg, WI) hit four three-pointers for a total of 14. In addition to his 11 points, Cramer provided eight assists and five rebounds.

With the win and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps' loss to Occidental College, Redlands (10-10, 7-2 SCIAC) now sits in a three-way tie for first place in the SCIAC. The Bulldogs head to Whittier College on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. conference bout with the Poets.