CLAREMONT, Calif. — Despite leading by as many as 18, Pomona-Pitzer men's basketball fell late to Redlands 73-71 Monday evening at Voelkel Gymnasium.
Season Impact: The loss moves the Sagehens to 4-4 on the season, including 0-2 in SCIAC play.
Joe Cookson led all scorers with 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting, adding a career-high 15 rebounds and two blocks.
Ty Bergman tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds while
Peyton Mullarkey contributed eight points and three assists.
Pomona-Pitzer led by as many as 18 towards the end of the first half and maintained a four-point advantage with 3:28 left but couldn't quite hold on. The Bulldogs ended the game on a 12-6 run to seal the win. The Sagehens out-shot Redlands 47.5% to 43.9% but shot just 17.6% from three, going 3-of-17, while the Bulldogs went 35% from deep.
Redlands opened the game with an 11-6 lead before Pomona-Pitzer came roaring back, scoring 11 unanswered to take a 17-11 advantage. Cookson scored a driving layup before completing a three-point play, then Mullarkey drained a three to give the Sagehens their largest lead of the contest, 32-14, with 6:54 left in the first half.
But the Bulldogs clawed their way back, ending the half on a 7-2 run to cut Pomona-Pitzer's lead to five, 42-37, at the break. The Sagehens shot 60.7% from the floor during the first period while Redlands tallied a 44.4% shooting clip.
The Bulldogs came out quick to start the second half, taking a 51-48 advantage six minutes in.
Pete Boyle knocked down a free-throw line jumper before Cookson completed another three-point play, putting the Sagehens back up 55-52. Teams then traded baskets, with Bergman, Cookson,
Samir O'Brien and Boyle each scoring two-point buckets to put Pomona-Pitzer up 63-59 with 4:32 left.
Redlands fought back though, taking a 72-68 lead with 27 seconds to go before Cookson hit a three to make it a one-point game, 72-71. The Bulldogs' Kendrick Currey then went 1-of-2 from the free throw line, giving the Sagehens one final opportunity to tie or take the lead. O'Brien's three-point attempt from the right wing at the buzzer didn't fall, as the Bulldogs held on for the 73-71 win.
Up Next: Pomona-Pitzer faces a quick turnaround as the team returns to action tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 17, against the University of Chicago. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. PT.
