PRESCOTT, Ariz. - The University of California, Merced men's basketball team picked up a wire-to-wire win against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Arizona) to move just one game back from a postseason spot, 69-59 Saturday night on the second leg of their Arizona road trip.
Freshman Mason Westlake anchored the Bobcats (11-11, 4-6) with 17 points, including a triple late in the second half to break the program's single-season three-point field goals record. Westlake's make from beyond the arc marked his 52nd of the season, 14th in the last four games.
The Riverside, Calif., native also recorded three assists and two steals in the second victory against Embry-Riddle this season.
Raphael Durr and Aaron Laflin added eight points each, while Ryan Haywood followed up his defensive milestone with a game-high five assists and four steals.
Laflin added to his offensive efforts by grabbing a team-high ten rebounds, his fifth game reaching double figures in his senior campaign.
Looking to get back to .500 on the year and give themselves a better chance at a postseason berth, the Bobcats opened up the contest clicking on all cylinders.
After Ronnie Kozak won the tip, Andrew Williams found Westlake beyond the three-point line for the first bucket of the game. That triple was followed by a strong cut and finish by Laflin to go up by two possessions. Kozak delivered the assist to Laflin and the Bobcats led by at least two possessions the rest of the game.
Four consecutive three-point makes, including a four-point play from Williams, extended the Bobcats lead to 14 points, 18-4.
UC Merced was halfway to 50 before the midway point of the second half and led 27-11 at the 10:02 mark via a dominant post finish from Kingsley Oboralt.
The Bobcats biggest lead of the first half was 19 points. That margin came on two separate occasions, first on a Durr basket and secondly on a dime from Westlake to Oboralt. The freshman to freshman connection had the Bobcats on top 38-19.
Branson Garcia and Westlake accounted for the Bobcats final six points of the half, each knocking down a triple and the Bobcats carried a 44-26 lead into intermission.
Head coach Kevin Pham's offense shot the ball at a 48% clip in the first 20 minutes, 56% from distance.
Defensively, the Bobcats limited Embry-Riddle to 29% (5-17) from the field in the same time span.
In the second half, Embry-Riddle was able to muster up five quick points to cut the Bobcats lead down to 13.
However, the Bobcats offense got hot again and a 9-0 run gave the Bobcats their largest lead of the game at 53-31. Kozak played a huge role in the offensive surge, scoring four of the nine points, including a powerful dunk off a find from Haywood.
The 22 point lead came six minutes and ten seconds into the half.
After a few makes from the home team, Alfred Batmani found the bottom of the net to get the Bobcats to the 55 point mark.
With five minutes left, Embry-Riddle cut the deficit to 55-48. UC Merced didn't allow the Eagles to come any closer and Westlake hit his record breaking three-pointer out of a timeout to extend the lead back to double figures at 58-48.
Westlake's three came right in front of the Bobcats bench, Haywood was credited with the assist.
Two minutes later, Westlake recorded one of his three steals, leading to an A. Laflin baseline jumper that widened the margin to 13 points, 61-48 with just under three minutes to play.
UC Merced still held a comfortable lead with a minute left and Embry-Riddle sent the Bobcats to the charity stripe the rest of the game.
The Bobcats hit eight of 12 foul shots and hit their final point total via a free throw conversion from Ryan Haywood with 15 seconds on the clock.
The 69-59 win marked the Bobcats second double figure win in conference play, sixth double figure win over the course of the regular season.
UC Merced finished the night shooting 40% (23-57) from the field, 43% (10-23) from the three-point line and 68% (13-19) at the charity stripe.
Other notables include the Bobcats assisting on nearly 70% of their field goals, 16 assists on 23 made shots.
Eight different Bobcats registered at least one assist.
Looking ahead, the Bobcats host Cal Maritime Academy at the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium on Thursday, February 7, at 7:30pm.
