Box Score CLAREMONT, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer Men's Basketball team suffered their first SCIAC loss of the season with an 89-74 defeat against Redlands on Saturday night at Voelkel Gymnasium.
Season Impact: with the loss, The Sagehens snap their seven-game win streak and fall to 9-5 overall and 4-1 in SCIAC play.
The Sagehens had four of their five starters in double-digits. Ty Bergman led the way with 17 points while Brendan Mora notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Joe Cookson and Hayden Moser also had double-digit scoring numbers as each of them chipped in with 14 in the loss.
Pomona-Pitzer shot 37.7% from the field and 42.9% from three, which wasn't too far off of Redlands numbers at 42% from the field and 44% from three, but the Sagehens turned the ball over 21 times and gave Redlands 26 points off of turnovers. The Bulldogs' bench also played a big role with 36 points coming from the reserves.
An early full-court press by Redlands gave the Sagehens issues in the first half after they forced 11 turnovers that directly led to 14 points in the first 20 minutes. Pomona-Pitzer took an early 10-6 lead inside the first five minutes and held that lead until about the midway point in the first half until Redlands sparked an 11-3 run to take a 28-19 lead with 6:55 left to play.
Owen Avdalovic broke the scoreless streak for the Sagehens to make it 28-21, but Redlands went on a scoring streak and converted a 6-point possession after a made three, loose ball fall, and another three to take a 36-21 lead with 4:17 until halftime. The Sagehens battled back late in the first half after Redlands got into foul trouble and some late free throws and defensive stops got Pomona-Pitzer back into the game after they trailed by 10 points at the break, 39-29.
Pomona-Pitzer came out of the locker room and immediately erased the Redlands lead and tied the game at 42-42 after a Moser three with 15:45 left in the second half. The Sagehens went on to take the lead after a Mora layup on the next possession, but Redlands started to get their offense going again and took an eight-point advantage at 54-46 with 11 minutes to play.
The Sagehens got to within five points at 68-63 at with 6:30 left to play but a big three out of the media timeout gave Redlands a 71-63 lead. Pomona-Pitzer tried to claw their way back into the game late, but Redlands was able to hold on and hand the Sagehens their first SCIAC loss of the season.
Up Next: The Sagehens will next travel to Whittier on Saturday, January 14th at 4:00 p.m.
