MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced men's basketball team held No. 22 Southern Oregon University 20 points under their season average but ultimately fell short of taking down their second Top 25 opponent of the season on Tuesday night, falling 68-61 inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (4-2), who rank 5th in the NAIA DII in scoring defense per game, are the only team who has limited Southern Oregon to less than 75 points this season. Furthermore, the Bobcats are the first non-conference team to hold the Raiders under 70 points since December 3, 2016.
Junior Raphael Durr helped slow down the Raiders backcourt with two steals and the Bobcats forced 16 turnovers overall which resulted in 21 points. Durr also had a team-high 12 points and has led the Bobcats in scoring in each of the past two games. All 12 of Durr's points came in the second-half, including ten in a three-minute stretch to propel the Bobcats to a 50-41 lead with 8:40 left.
Aside from Durr, juniors Ronnie Kozak and Ryan Haywood finished in double figures with ten points each. The three combined to make 13 of the Bobcats 22 field goals.
The Bobcats were in control the majority of the night and didn't trail until the final five minutes of the game. The hometown team also had a ten point lead and two nine point leads in three differents parts of the night.
In the first half, freshmen Kingsley Oboralt and Mason Westlake combined for seven points in just about two minutes (11:40-9:37) to put the Bobcats up by ten at 18-8.
Although the lead was trimmed, Seth Cobb sunk a triple towards the end of the half to carry a 30-23 lead into the locker room. Prior to tonight, Southern Oregon hadn't trailed by more than five points at any part of a first half since November 3.
The nine-point leads in the second half came courtesy of the Bobcats guards. Sophomore Jonah Cottrell recorded a steal to start the half that turned into a Cole Taira bucket at the other end of the floor to go up 32-23. Four minutes later, the Bobcats led by just 2 at 33-31 and it remained close at the 40-37 mark. "Cinco" Durr took over with the narrow lead and that is when he scored his ten points in three minutes to go back up by ten points (50-41). Durr made each shot he took during the stretch, 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from the charity stripe. Durr also grabbed a rebound and notched a steal in the same time span. Each team traded buckets the four trips up and down the floor, however the Bobcats eventually got stuck at 54 points for four minutes and 43 seconds. By the time the Bobcats scored again, Southern Oregon had taken a five point lead via a 14-0 run.
It was Haywood who halted the run by getting to the free-throw line. Kozak got to the line one possession later and cut the deficit to 59-57 but that's as close as the Bobcats would come as SOU answered with a deep contested three to take a two-score lead that never vanished.
Despite the setback, the Bobcats are still garnering attention from the NAIA as they won four in a row to start the year and the two losses have been well-fought games against an NCAA Division 1 opponent (UC Riverside) and a nationally ranked NAIA opponent in Southern Oregon.
The Bobcats did win the battle on the offensive glass and the turnover battle. Cole Taira and Matt Laflin each had two offensive rebounds, while four other players grabbed one.
Other notables include seven points each from Taira and Westlake.
Up next, the Bobcats take on NCAA Division II opponent Dominican University of California on Saturday, November 26. Tipoff from San Rafael, Calif., is slated for 4:00pm.
