The University of Redlands men’s basketball team overcome the odds and made history Saturday night.
Omari Ferguson drove nearly the entire length of the floor and scored the decisive layup with 0.3 seconds remaining in overtime as the Bulldogs outlasted Tufts University 95-93 in an NCAA Division III second-round game at Cousens Gym in Medford, Mass.
It marks the first time the program has advanced to the Sweet 16 of the Division III tournament. Redlands (24-4) returns to action Friday, March 14, for a third-round showdown against Hampden-Sydney College (23-5) at New York University’s Paulson Center.
Things looked a little bleak Saturday night for Redlands, as it trailed Tufts 58-41 with 11 1/2 minutes remaining in the second half. The Bulldogs chipped at the deficit but still trailed by 10 with 7:40 left in regulation. James Morakis would finish with a game-high 36 points for No. 8-ranked Tufts, and his jumper with 10 gave the Jumbos an 83-80 lead with 10 seconds showing on the clock.
After a Redlands timeout, Chozen Amadi hit a contested 3-pointer from the left wing with a second remaining to force overtime.
Redlands took an early lead in the extra session, but Tufts (22-6) leveled the score at 93 when Morakis sank a pair of free throws. The Bulldogs were out of timeouts and unable to advance the ball with 4.4 seconds remaining. Ferguson took the inbounds pass around the opposition’s 3-point line, drove up the left side of the court and swooped in for a layup with 0.3 seconds left to play.
Redlands was led by Lucas Gordon, who finished with 22 points and a game-high 14 rebounds before he fouled out in overtime. Ferguson had 18 points and five steals, and Kendrick Currey tallied 19 points and seven assists for the No 15-ranked Bulldogs.
The 24 wins by the Bulldogs is tied for second most in program history and trails only the 27 victories by the 1960-61 squad.
