ROCKLIN, Calif. - The University of California, Merced men's basketball team settled for a split at the William Jessup New Year's Classic, dropping an 87-76 contest Tuesday afternoon in the final game of the decade.
Despite the loss, the Bobcats (8-4) head into the new year with eight wins for the second straight season. Prior to last year, that feat was never accomplished and the Bobcats are one of just three California Pacific Conference teams to currently have such a streak.
Ryan Haywood led all scorers with a season-high 19 points. The senior also had a season-high four steals and dished out six assists to tie the program's all-time assists record. Haywood currently shares the record of 276 career assists with Cole Taira.
Andrew Williams added 13 points and has finished with double figures in back-to-back games for the first time since November of 2016. Williams was an efficient 50% (2-4) from downtown while adding three rebounds and a steal in 25 minutes off the bench.
Kinglsey Obiorah turned in an eleven point, eight rebound performance. Chiwike E'denchukwu and Mason Westlake each pitched in nine points and three rebounds. E'denchukwu also had a season-high two steals and tied his season-high with three assists.
Jessup had six players in double figures and shot just over 50% (32-63) from the floor.
Starting with a Westlake triple, the Bobcats opened the game on a 7-0 run and held Jessup scoreless for nearly the first three minutes. Westlake buried another three-point shot shortly after for a 10-2 lead.
A day after E'denchukwu showcased his leaping ability with a stellar one-handed slam, he received the ball near the rim but was fouled hard while attempting another highlight reel dunk. He managed to sink both foul shots and the Bobcats had a double figure lead less than four minutes in, 12-2. The Bobcats double figure advantage was the second in as many days and third in the last four games.
The Bobcats also led Jessup by ten points on at 17-7 after an Alfred Batmani putback. However, Jessup followed with a 10-2 run to pull within a possession. At the 10:22 mark of the first half, Jessup took its first lead of the game at 22-20. E'denchukwu found Obiorah the next trip down the floor to even the game at 22, the first of two ties in the next 71 seconds.
The host Warriors broke a 24-24 tie with a Sam Howlin layup and shortly after went up 31-26. A Raphael Durr triple brought the Bobcats within two with 5:25 left but a 9-0 Jessup run gave the Warriors their biggest lead of the first half, 40-29.
Haywood, Williams and Jonah Cottrell scored just before intermission and solid UC Merced defense allowed the Bobcats to get within two possessions at the break, 42-36.
The first eight minutes of the second half were back and forth as Jessup quickly built themselves a 50-38 lead but four Bobcat triples and a dunk from Obiorah brought head coach Kevin Pham's team within three at 55-52. Four different players made up the three-point barrage, including Seth Cobb who buried a triple for a career-best eighth straight game.
Approaching the midway point of the half, Jessup was back up by double figures and mustered a game-high 15 point lead with 9:52 to play. E'denchukwu and Williams were key in staving off any further damage but the Jessup lead remained at least ten points the rest of the way.
The closest the Bobcats got was 83-73 with just under 90 seconds to go. Although the Warriors missed their next shot, Austin Dill grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up for an easy two. The Warriors Isaiah Milan followed with a layup to go up 87-73 and Haywood finalized the scoring with a three-point play to clinch his season-high.
Haywood's 19 points is his highest scoring effort since scoring a career-high 20 on February 16, 2019.
Overall, the Bobcats shot 42% (26-61) from the floor, 37% (10-27) from beyond the arc and 85% (12-14) from the charity stripe. The Bobcats have made 10+ triples and have shot at least 85% from the foul line in three of the last four games.
Other notables include having more assists than turnovers for the second straight game and recording eight steals, the most since recording ten against Westcliff on November 22.
Looking ahead, the Bobcats host Pacific Union College in the California Pacific Conference opener on Saturday, January 4 at 8:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
