University of Redlands men win SCIAC, return to NCAA tournament

The University of Redlands men’s basketball team is advancing to the NCAA Division III tournament for the second straight year after winning the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament for the first time in 13 years.

The Bulldogs (23-4), the 17th seed among 64 teams, will play Susquehanna University of Selinsgrove, PA. (16-12) in the first round at noon PST on Friday, March 6, at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.

Redlands advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals during the 2024–25 season.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division III Region 10, tied Claremont-Mudd-Scripps for the 2025-26 regular season SCIAC title at 13-3, then beat Occidental 100-76 and Chapman University 93-64 to win the tournament title and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Head Coach Eric Bridgeland, in his fifth year with the Bulldogs, was named along with his staff as the top coaching staff in the SCIAC.

Bridgeland has guided U of R to a 94-40 record to date.

Bridgeland was honored by the athletic department for reaching a milestone of 300 wins in his collegiate coaching career earlier this season.

Four members of his team earned all-SCIAC honors.

Lucas Gordon was voted the conference’s top offensive player. Gordon has averaged 14.5 points on 56 percent shooting from the field and 8.7 rebounds a game with 29 blocked shots and 35 steals.

Also earning all-conference honors were Jake Hlywiak (13.1 points, 5.5 assists per game with 27 steals); Jhace Boston (12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds per game, 41 blocked shots along with 36 steals and 55 assists); and Omari Ferguson (11.7 points per game with 71 assists and 65 steals).