MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced men's basketball team lost a 67-58 contest to University of Antelope Valley on Thursday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
Despite the Bobcats (13-12, 6-7) setback, freshman Mason Westlake poured in a 2018-19 freshman California Pacific Conference high with 23 points
Westlake hit five triples en route to his stellar performance and is in a position to become the second player in program history to finish Top 5 in the conference in triples.
Senior Matt Laflin pitched in ten points off the bench, while Cole Taira finished with eight points and a pair of steals. Ryan Haywood produced seven points and seven rebounds to inch closer to a second straight 100+ rebounding season.
The Bobcats controlled the game early and were up 13-2 six minutes into the game. 12 of the Bobcats first 13 points came from beyond the arc. Westlake accounted for three triples during the stretch. Haywood also had a three-point field goal and Ronnie Kozak added a make from the free throw line.
UC Merced held UAV scoreless from the 18:07 mark to the 12:28 mark in the first half. However once the Pioneers scored, Antelope Valley embarked on a 16-4 run and took an 18-17 lead six minutes before intermission.
Raphael Durr drew a foul and hit both free throws to retake the lead but that would mark the Bobcats final lead of the first half.
Back-to-back Pioneer triples had the Bobcats down by five at 24-19, while a steal and score built the opponent's lead to 26-19. The seven point lead was the largest first half lead for the Pioneers. Westlake and Durr anchored the Bobcats back to a two point deficit, 31-29, just before halftime.
Out of the break, UAV built their lead to a couple possessions with three points in the first 50 seconds.
After a UC Merced timeout, the Bobcats were fluid offensively and scored on three straight possessions to take a 36-34 lead.
UAV followed with a 4-0 run. Taira matched that with a field goal and a pair of free throws to have the Bobcats up 40-38 with 15:25 remaining.
After Taira's foul shots, the Pioneers mustered up a three-point play that ended up being the game's final lead change.
Antelope Valley built the lead to five points midway through the half and ten points at the 6:39 mark. A timely Matt Laflin three kept the Bobcats within striking distance down the stretch but were never able to get over the hump and were down by a game-high 13 points with less than a minute to go.
Westlake scored the night's final four points to get the Bobcats to their 58 point total in the 67-58 loss.
Defensively, the Bobcats held Antelope Valley 12 points under their season average. Blocking shots was a key part of the defensive stops as UC Merced sent eight shots away. Cinco Durr tallied three blocks. Kingsley Oboralt notched a pair.
Other notables include nine rebounds and four assists from Aaron Laflin.
The loss puts the Bobcats in a must win situation in the final game of the regular season Saturday night. However, a Bobcat win has to be accompanied by a Cal Maritime win and a Pacific Union win to clinch a postseason berth.
A UC Merced win Saturday night would give the Bobcats their first winning season in program history at 14-12.
Tomorrow night's matchup is slated for 8:30pm against La Sierra University inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
Seniors Aaron Laflin, Matt Laflin and Branson Garcia will be honored before the game.
