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| Kendrick Currey scored a game-high 19 points and added eight rebounds and seven assists for Redlands in the tournament opener. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com | More photos from this game |
LAS VEGAS -- The 14th annual D3hoops.com Classic started off with a barnburner, as Hardin-Simmons cut an 18-point deficit all the way down to two before Redlands pulled away for a 97-89 win.
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It was the only game of the day, and the first day of 17 games among 16 teams at the event. Redlands and Hardin-Simmons are each playing three games in Las Vegas.
After Redlands' full-court press helped the Bulldogs establish a 14-point halftime lead and extend on it early in the second half, culminating in Lucas Gordon throwing down a dunk just over three minutes into the second half to make it 57-39. But Hardin-Simmons (4-8) went on a 9-1 run and later a 9-0 run. Will Bartoszek hit a three-pointer with 8:49 left to cut it to 68-65.
Austin Brewer added a layup with 6:21 to make it 73-71 and HSU was as close as 80-77 with 4:21 left before Redlands began to pull away. Matthew Alexander fouled Chozen Amadi with less than a second left on the shot clock, and Amadi's two foul shots, plus a Kendrick Currey steal and layup made it 84-77. Bartoszek hit a three with 2:09 to play and Alexander had a steal and layup to make it 87-85, but Redlands scored 10 of the final 14 points, including all five of its free throws.
Currey led all scorers with 19 points, including 11-for-13 from the foul line, while Gordon added 16 points and seven rebounds for Redlands (8-2). Brewer led HSU with 17 points, while Bartoszek and Silas Davis added 15 apiece.