VALLEJO, Calif. - The University of California, Merced men's basketball team came up short of their second comeback win in the last three games, falling 72-67 to Cal Maritime Academy Thursday night inside the Physical Education Center.
A barrage of three-point plays led the Bobcats (8-8, 1-3) rally, including four in the final six minutes to get as close as 69-65.
Mason Westlake accounted for three of the Bobcats final four triples, while Ryan Haywood converted a pair of three point plays earlier in the half to give the Bobcats some life.
Haywood was one of three Bobcats in double figures and did a bit of everything with an eleven point, eight rebound and seven assist effort.
Raphael Durr scored a team-high 13 points, while Matt Laflin pitched in 12 points on 50% (5-10) from the floor. Durr also led all players with two steals.
The Bobcats held two leads in the game, both coming within the first four minutes at 2-0 and 6-5. Following the brief back and forth action, Cal Maritime and UC Merced traded extensive runs that saw the score go from a one point game to 16 point game and then back to a two possession affair.
Cal Maritime accounted for the first run, a 21-4 stretch that put them up 26-10.
Led by Durr, the Bobcats chipped away at the deficit by reeling off ten straight points to come within six points at 26-20. Durr scored five points during the run, while Haywood and Branson Garcia combined for the other five. The stretch was highlighted by back-to-back threes on two consecutive trips down the floor.
90 seconds later, Durr received a pass in the far corner, drove hard to the basket and flew through a pair of taller defenders to finish off a highlight reel play. Durr's bucket kept the game within single digits but Cal Maritime was able to extend their lead to 41-26 heading into the locker rooms.
A Keelhauler 6-0 run to start the second half had the Bobcats staring at the largest deficit of the night, 47-26.
The Bobcats second wind came next, shaving four points off the deficit in the next 90 seconds and cut it to nine points three minutes later. Haywood highlighted the span with his pair of three-point plays, attacking the same defender on both plays.
The three-point barrage continued throughout the half, but Westlake's triple at the 90 second mark to make it 69-65 was the last big make for the Bobcats as they snapped a three-game winning streak against the opponent.
Despite the loss, the Bobcats slowed Cal Maritime's offense down. The Keelhaulers 72 points were 19 points less than what they averaged in their last four wins this season.
Other Bobcat positives include shooting 44% (27-61) from the field and scoring the most amount of points in a Cal Pac game this year.
Senior Branson Garcia scored a season-high nine points, while Westlake also finished with nine. Westlake has now made multiple shots from beyond the arc in four straight games.
Up next, the Bobcats look to get back on track when they host Simpson University on Saturday, January 12. Tipoff inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium is scheduled for 7:30pm.
