LAS VEGAS – The University of Redlands men's basketball team opened the 2024 D3hoops.com Classic with a 97-89 win over Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) Friday evening inside South Point Arena.

The Bulldogs wasted no time jumping out to an early lead against the Cowboys. They were up nine, 11-2, after four minutes thanks to five points Donovan Ware and three points from Jhace Boston.

Following a 9-2 HSU response, Lucas Gordon made a pair of free throws and Jake Hlywiak made a jump shot to start a 15-3 run that put Redlands ahead by 16, 30-14, with 10:05 to play in the opening half.

Less than three minutes later the Cowboys again had a responding run as they got within eight, but the Bulldogs finished the half by outscoring them by six as a late Ware three off a Kendrick Currey assist put them up 51-37 at the half.

In the second half Gordon grabbed an offensive rebound and scored a pair of second chance points on a dunk as he put the Bulldogs ahead by their largest margin of 18 with 16:58 on the clock.

Redlands continued to hold onto their double-digit lead down inside the 13-minute mark after Chozen Amadi scored in the paint. HSU, though, made a three to draw within nine and would get as close as three, 62-59, with 10:48 still left in the game.

A quick 6-0 run stretched the lead to three possessions after Currey drew two fouls and went 4-for-4 at the line and Ferguson converted on the fastbreak.

At the 6:21 and 1:40 marks the Cowboys were trailing by only two, but each time the Bulldogs responded. At the 1:40 mark they scored 10 of the final 14 points thanks to a perfect 5-for-5 mark at the line.

Currey had a game-high 19 points and added eight rebounds and a season-high seven assists. Gordon (16), Ware (14), Amadi (12), and Gates (10) were also in double figures. Of note, Nathaniel Johnson made his season debut as he played for the first time since February 2023 after missing all of last season with an injury.

The Bulldogs will have tomorrow off before facing University of Mount Union on Sunday, December 29 at 4:00 p.m.