MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced men's basketball team got by Dominican University of California in the 2019-20 home opener, 76-68 Saturday afternoon inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
Senior guard Andrew Williams poured in a game-high 18 points off the bench for the Bobcats (2-0), while Kingsley Obiorah was exactly what the team needed down low and was good for a career-high 12 rebounds and a program-best five blocks. The sophomore also added six points and a steal in 30 minutes off the bench.
Chiwike E'denchukwu suited up on Hostetler Court for the first time since February 10, 2018 due to an injury and tallied 13 points, eleven in the second half. Ryan Haywood added ten points and three assists in a game-high 37 minutes of action. Raphael Durr and Jonah Cottrell each had nine points and two steals, while Cole Taira stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, five rebounds and four assists.
The Bobcats controlled the tempo the majority of the game, leading for 33 of the games 40 minutes and led by at least six points the entire second half. The largest lead for fifth-year head coach Kevin Pham and company was 16 (43-27) after a transition three by Williams. His triple, one of four for the Sacramento, Calif., native, capped a Bobcat 9-0 run with 13:13 to go in the game. Three of Williams' four three-point field goal makes came in the second half.
In the first half, the two teams combined to shoot just 26% (15-58) and combined for 22 turnovers, 15 of the turnovers to Dominican's name. The first 20 minutes on Saturday also had eight lead changes, with the final lead change coming on a Taira baseline jumper to go up 21-20. Taira sunk two free-throws one possession later and Williams drained his first triple with 30 seconds left to give the Bobcats a 26-20 lead at the break. Overall, the Bobcats finished the first half on an 11-2 run.
The second half was much more offensive friendly as both teams nearly tripled their points total and combined to shoot 57% (33-58). As mentioned above, the Bobcats led by six points the entire second half but also led by double figures for 13 of the final 20 minutes. UC Merced has managed to go up by double figures in both games to start the year. Last year, the Bobcats led by double figures in three of their first four games and all resulted in victories. To create separation on Saturday, the Bobcats scored four straight points out of the break, had the 9-0 run to go up by 16 and also scored four straight points down the stretch when Dominican closed the gap to seven with 2:49 remaining.
Dominican managed to score eleven points in the games final minute, but the Bobcats were able to hold off the Penguins by converting seven of their eight free throws during the same time span and also got a fastbreak score out of Cottrell.
Overall, the Bobcats recorded 14 points off turnovers and shot 77% (21-27) from the charity stripe. The Bobcats shot 43% (25-58) from the field and 33% (5-15) from beyond the arc, while limiting Dominican to 40% (23-58) from the field and 29% (6-21) from distance. The Bobcats also forced Dominican into 22 turnovers while committing eleven.
Other notables include assists on 13 of the Bobcats 25 field goals and getting 35 points off the bench.
Junior transfer Mason Johnson made his Hostetler Court debut and was good for four points, three rebounds and a block in 15 minutes. He made his lone field goal attempt and was 2-2 at the line.
Up next, the Bobcats host first-time opponent Yellowstone Christian College inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium on Monday, November 4 at 7:30pm.
