LA VERNE, Calif. – The University of Redlands men's basketball team move into a tie for first in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings after defeating the University of La Verne, 86-78, on the road Wednesday evening. They are tied with California Lutheran University for first who they split the season series with.

Lucas Gordon began his big game with an early layup. At the 16:55 mark he converted on a three-point play as he had the Bulldogs up 6-3.

The lead stretched to double digits for the first time after Kendrick Currey got into the paint for a 13-3 advantage.

After the Leopards reduced the lead to two, 14-12, Jake Hlywiak made a three off an Omari Ferguson assist as he started an 8-0 run that included a fastbreak dunk for Currey and a three for Chozen Amadi.

The lead was as large as 17 and they would head into the locker room up 11, 45-34, after Currey scored before the halftime buzzer.

La Verne was within eight, 50-42, at the 17:07 mark in the second half, but Redlands quickly reestablished their double figure advantage with an 11-1 run across the next two minutes as the gap ballooned up to 16, 59-43.

The game looked in hand with 6:09 to play when Gordon had an offensive rebound tip in for a 77-57 lead. The Leopards, though, fought back, scoring 16 of the next 20 points, but it took them more than five minutes and the Bulldogs were able to close out the final minute with five points from Gordon.

Gordon had 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting and 6-of-8 from the line. He also had 11 rebounds. Currey, Amadi, and Hlywiak were in double figures too.

With the win they are in position to win the SCIAC regular season title for the first time since 2012-13 which was also the last SCIAC Tournament title and trip to the NCAA tournament.

Redlands celebrate their seniors this Saturday inside Currier Gym at 7 p.m. as they host Occidental College.