REDLANDS, Calif. -- In a gutsy performance the Missionaries defeated the University of Redlands in overtime, 95-83, this evening at Currier Gym, improving their early season mark to 2-3. The Bulldogs drop to 1-4.

Whitman was down by as many as seven several times in the second half but continued to persevere, taking a 75-74 lead with 1:49 left on the clock on a Dominic Lippi three-pointer from the corner. Redlands retook the lead 78-76 but Whitman responded when Evan Martin made a layup off of a lob pass to tie the score and send the two teams to overtime.

The Missionaries jumped on the Bulldogs early in the OT; Matt Mounier hit a three and a pair of free throws and Lippi hit from long range to give Whitman an 86-78 lead that they would not relinquish. After Redlands cut the advantage to 88-83, the Missionaries salted the game away at the line, hitting seven free throws in-a-row while not allowing the Bulldogs another field goal.

Mounier poured in 25 points -- tying his career high -- as he was 4 of 8 from beyond the arc and 9 of 11 from the foul line. Josh Duckworth had a season-high 22 points as he also made hay from the charity stripe, knocking down 13 of 20. Martin posted a career-best 20 points on 9 of 10 shooting while grabbing 8 rebounds.

Ricky Peetz paced Redlands with 17, while Aljosa Bjekovic added 14 and Ian Gordon 12 for the Bulldogs.

Each team made runs and at times looked like they would take control of the game. Midway through the first half the Bulldogs got hot from beyond the arc and went on a 15 to 2 run to take a 30-23 lead. They would up that to 35-23 before the Missionaries went on a run of their own (7-0) to cut the lead to 35-30 at halftime.

Moments into the second half Whitman went on another run (14-0), highlighted by three straight baskets by Martin, to grab a 44-38 advantage. The Bulldogs responded, though, with a 10-0 spurt of their own to retake the lead 48-44. They held that lead until Lippi hit his trey from the corner.

Whitman shot a healthy percentage from three-point land, 41.4 %, as did Redlands, 43.3 %.

At the free throw line, though, the Missionaries held a huge advantage. Whitman went to the line 36 times, making 25 attempts. The Bulldogs got the charity stripe only 15 times, converting 10 attempts.

After playing four straight games on the road, the Missionaries now come home to play UC Santa Cruz on December 5 at 8 pm.

Contact:

Andrew Holt

Whitman Sports Information Director

holtac@whitman.edu

509.527.5902