CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands men's basketball team (11-3, 3-2) dropped their first game in more than a month as they lost by two, 99-97, at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action Wednesday evening.

It was a hot start for Omari Ferguson and Jhace Boston who had eight and four points each to help the Bulldogs to a nine-point lead, 17-8, after six minutes of play.

The lead was quickly reduced to two just over three minutes later. Ferguson and Dayvon Gates, though, made back-to-back threes to reclaim an eight-point lead.

A 9-2 Stag run down to the 3:18 mark put the Bulldogs down by their largest margin of three. Ferguson, however, scored the final eight points for Redlands as he helped them take a 46-45 lead into halftime.

The strong finish turned into a strong start to the second half as Chozen Amadi and Jake Hlywiak both made threes for a five-point lead in the first 60 seconds of the half.

Things started to turn in favor of the Stags at the 16:47 mark when they scored in the paint and would go on a 15-1 run over the next three minutes as they were the first side to take a double-digit lead of 71-61.

Following a couple of strong runs, the Bulldogs still found themselves down 11, 80-69, with 10:43 to play. Kendrick Currey then found Amadi for the first of two threes. Those threes sparked a 15-2 run that concluded with a  Ferguson fastbreak layup that put them back in the lead, 84-82, with 6:35 on the clock.

In the final minute Amadi drew a foul and made both at the line as they went ahead by one, 97-96, with 39 seconds left. CMS, though, drew two fouls and made three-of-four free throws to seal the win.

Ferguson, Amadi, and Boston combined for 70 points. Ferguson went for 21 in the first half and Amdi 23 in the second.

Redlands returns to Currier Gym this Saturday, January 18 at 4 p.m. as they play game two of the doubleheader with the women's team against Whittier College.