Redlands Men's Basketball falls short in their comeback against Pomona-Pitzer

REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands men's basketball team (9-4, 1-3) trailed by 17 with seven minutes to play and cut it to two with a minute remaining but their comeback fell short as they lost to Pomona-Pitzer 93-85 inside Currier Gym Wednesday evening.

Things got off to a great start in the opening three minutes as they led by five, 11-5, after Jhace Boston, Khyree Armstead, Cameron Brown all scored.

The Sagehens would score the next six points to tie the game at 11 but Ivan Belkin was set up for a three off a Cameron Joseph feed to reclaim the lead less than 20 seconds later.

The remainder of the first half saw the two teams tied at 14, 16, 18, 22, 24, 27, 33, and 37 before Sam Abere was assisted by Lucas Gordon on a last second jumper in the paint for a 39-37 halftime advantage.

The opening two minutes of the second half the two side continued their back-and-forth as they were tied at 39 and 42, but the Sagehens would start a 31-14 run that put them up by 17 with 8:12 on the clock.

Pomona-Pitzer held that lead as late as the seven-minute mark before Redlands started to pull the game back with five points from Robet Power and four points at the line from Kendrick Currey as they were within eight, 75-67, with 5:24 still to play.

With 1:53 on the clock the Sagehens reclaimed their double-digit lead, 85-75, but Power hit another three, drew a foul and made both at the line and Currey grabbed a long offensive rebound and made a three to make it a two point game, 85-83, with 1:07 remaining.

That would be as close as they got it as the Sagehens went 8-for-8 from the line over the last 58 seconds to claim the win.

Power led all Bulldogs scorers as he tied his career-high with 22 points (7-17 FG, 3-7 3FG, 5-7 FT) and added six rebounds and two assists. The other three players in double figures were Currey with 17 points, Armstead with 16 points thanks to only one missed field goal attempt, and Boston with 10 points in only 19 minutes.

The Bulldogs will play their second consecutive home game this Saturday, January 13 at 5:00 p.m. as they host Occidental College in game one of a doubleheader with the women's team inside Currier.