MERCED, Calif. – Ryan Haywood turned in a strong all-around performance to propel the University of California, Merced men's basketball team over nonconference foe Westcliff University, 66-62 in front of a strong home contingent Friday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (5-2) remain undefeated at home through four games and the four straight wins on Hostetler Court ties the program record originally set back in the 2012-2013 campaign.
Haywood's strong effort was highlighted by a one-handed slam down the stretch that made up two of his team-high 17 points. Haywood's third double figure point total of the season was accompanied by nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block. The seniors nine rebounds tied his career-high, while the three steals tied his season-high.
Jonah Cottrell also finished in double figures with an efficient 13 points, including nine from long distance on just four three-point tries. On the season, Cottrell is shooting 58% from the field and a team-best 48% (13-27) from downtown.
Raphael Durr and Kingsley Obiorah added eight and seven points, respectively, and were solid defensively. Durr, who was limited to just 18 minutes due to foul trouble, scored all eight of his points in the second half and was a much-needed spark for UC Merced. Durr also had three steals, while Obiorah grabbed eleven rebounds with a career-high five coming on the offensive end. The sophomore was also good for three blocks and an assist.
After a scoreless first two minutes, Chiwike E'denchukwu got the offense started with an elbow jumper. The senior has now accounted for the Bobcats first field goal in three straight games.
Though both teams grabbed a lead, the two-point advantage was the largest margin in the first seven minutes of play. Justin Nguyen made it three at 11-8 after beating a defender baseline for his first career basket.
Five minutes later, Nguyen forced a turnover leading to a Haywood layup at the other end of the floor for a 21-17 advantage.
After Westcliff got back within a possession, Mason Westlake scored in transition and Seth Cobb followed with a strong take to the rack and converted the bucket through contact resulting in a three-point play.
Cobb had UC Merced up by then a game-high five points (26-21) with five minutes to play before intermission, but the Warriors followed with a 12-6 run and managed to carry a 33-32 lead into the dressing rooms. There were seven lead changes in the final five minutes, 14 over the course of the half.
Out of the break, Durr got the lead right back and traded two more buckets with Westcliff that would soon tie the game at 38. Neither team managed to score two consecutive times until Haywood blocked a shot and then found himself on the receiving end of a highlight-reel Durr pass from the beyond the timeline.
A Cottrell triple came next to put the Bobcats up 43-38 with 14:48 on the clock. E'denchukwu put the home team up by a game-high six points moments later but Westcliff countered with a 7-0 run to go up 46-45.
Midway through the half, Westlake knocked down a triple to extend his streak with a three-point make to six games.
There were five lead changes in the next five minutes. The final lead change came with just over four minutes remaining as Haywood drove baseline to put UC Merced up 58-57. Head coach Kevin Pham immediately called timeout and the Bobcats scored four straight out of the huddle, including a Haywood thunderous dunk that got the Bobcats back up by six at 63-57.
The Bobcats led by at least three the remainder of the game and although Westcliff had a chance to tie it with the shot clock off, Obiorah came in clutch with a block on a Jacob Knox three-point attempt. Haywood was then fouled and sunk a free throw to seal the game, 66-62.
Overall, the Bobcats blocked five shots and forced 22 turnovers.
Looking ahead, the Bobcats host Menlo College on Tuesday, November 26. The jump inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium is scheduled for 7:30pm.
