PORTLAND, Ore. – Lewis & Clark College men's basketball held a 30-22 halftime lead, but the University of Redlands took the lead midway through the second half and stiffened a late Pioneers rally to come away with a 72-66 road win at Pamplin Sports Center on Friday afternoon.

 THE BASICS

Redlands 72, Lewis & Clark 66

(Lewis & Clark 3-3

(Redlands 4-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Senior Mikey Medlock Jr. led the Pioneers with 13 points, including three three-pointers, while first-year Jake Rodriguez hit two late-game threes to add 11 points. Seniors Griffin Datcher IV and Sebastian DePrez each contributed nine points and a game-high seven rebounds. Datcher IV added three assists in his first game of the season.

The Pioneers controlled much of the first half, building a 27-15 advantage through strong interior play and defensive effort. During an 11-0 Pioneers run, senior Nate Berg blocked two of his game-high three shots, and DePrez scored back-to-back baskets in the paint, including a crowd-energizing drunk off an assist from Datcher IV. Medlock Jr. connected from long range with 14 seconds on the clock to help Lewis & Clark take a 30-22 lead into halftime.

Lewis & Clark maintained their advantage early in the second half, but Redlands mounted a comeback, pulling within 33-32 just over three minutes after the break. Senior Sam Henderson (seven points, four rebounds) extended the lead back to three, 35-32, with a dunk on a pass from junior Kody Uyesugi (six points, four assists).

After falling behind 40-37 at the 13-minute mark, DePrez and Medlock Jr. scored all nine Lewis & Clark points for a 46-42 lead two minutes later. Redlands seized momentum with a decisive 9-2 run midway through the second half, turning that four-point deficit into a 51-48 lead. The Bulldogs extended their advantage to 59-51 with 5:27 remaining on a Chozen Amadi (19 points) three-pointer.

The Pioneers mounted a late rally behind Rodriguez, who connected on two three-pointers in the final minute to cut the deficit to five, but Redlands sealed the victory at the free throw line.

 BY THE NUMBERS

• The Pioneers held the Bulldogs to just 36.9 percent shooting (24-65) but were outscored 17-4 at the free throw line.
• Juniors Taien Jackson (six points) and Andre Treadwell (two points) joined Henderson and Berg with four rebounds each in the game.
• Lewis & Clark scored more points in the paint (38-34) and off the bench (30-28) then Redlands.

WHO'S NEXT

The Pioneers open Northwest Conference play at Willamette University on Friday at 6 p.m. in Salem, Oregon.