REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands men's basketball team (7-2) used a strong first half to defeat University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) 91-85 in their final home non-conference game of the season Wednesday afternoon inside Currier Gym.

Leading by only one after five minutes, Thomas Hastings drew a foul and made both of his free throws as he started a 9-0 Bulldog run. During the run Jhace Boston had five points.

Then from the 11:55 mark to the to the 11:02 mark Chozen Amadi, Logan Dorsey, and Jake Hlywiak all scored to stretch the lead to 16, 34-18.

UCSC closed the gap to 11, 44-33, with 1:58 to play in the opening half, but Redlands got a pair of free throws from Kendrick Currey, a free throw from Lucas Gordon, and a three by Hlywiak as they went into the break leading by 17, 50-33.

Eight of the first 10 points of the second half came from the Bulldogs as they held their largest lead of the game at 23, 58-35, with 16:37 on the clock. Omari Ferguson, Boston, Hlywiak, and Dayvon Gates all scored two points.

The 20-point lead was maintained by the Bulldogs as late as the 11:22 mark when Boston converted twice at the line. The Banana Slugs, though, would start a comeback inside the 11-minute mark as they got within eight, 80-72, with 5:12 to play.

UCSC would then get within four, 84-80, thanks to an and-one with 1:23 on the clock. Redlands would close out the win despite making only five of their eight free throws.

Boston fouled out in only 23 minutes, but he still managed a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Hlywiak (18), Ferguson (12), Gordon (11), Amadi (10), Currey (10), and Boston (10) also reached double figures scoring.

The Bulldogs shot only 37.1 percent from the field, but they were plus 24 combined points from the three-point line and free throw line.

Their final three games of 2024 will come in Las Vegas at the D3hoops.com Classic as they play Hardin-Simmons University, University of Mount Union, and SUNY New Paltz.