PRESCOTT, Ariz. - The University of California, Merced men's basketball team finished on the wrong end of a back-and-forth affair Thursday night, falling 46-44 to 2019 Cal Pac Tournament Runner-Up Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the ERAU Activity Center.
The Bobcats (9-5, 1-1) had three opportunities in the final 90 seconds to tie the game or take the lead but failed to cash in on two tough paint looks and an elbow jumper as time expired.
The game had 18 lead changes and the scoring margin was within three points for 38 of the game's 40 minutes. The Bobcats accounted for the biggest lead which was six points towards the end of the first half.
Thursday night's 90 combined points marks the lowest scoring game in program history.
Kingsley Obiorah was a bright spot offensively for the Bobcats and tied his career-high with eleven points while shooting 100% (4-4) from the floor. The California Pacific Conference's blocks leader sent away a game-high two shots and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Chiwike E'denchukwu pitched in eight points, while Mason Westlake buried two triples and has now made a three-point field goal in 14 straight games.
Ryan Haywood played a game-high 36 minutes and led all players with four assists. Raphael Durr recorded three assists and game-high three steals. Seth Cobb added five points, three assists and two steals off the bench.
Despite the limited scoring, both teams combined to score on the games first five possessions and the Eagles led 6-5 within the first two minutes.
Two more lead changes occurred before a 9-9 tie and Durr broke the deadlock after intercepting a Nick Johnson pass and laying it up at the other end. The Bobcats trailed 14-11 midway through the half but the game was tied at 14 two minutes later and again at 16 with six minutes to go.
Out of a timeout, E'denchukwu got a paint touch and powered by his defender for an 18-16 lead. It was the start of a 6-0 run that put UC Merced up by a game-high six points two minutes prior to intermission.
The Bobcats advantage shrunk to 22-20 at intermission. The teams combined to shoot 33% (17-51) from the floor and 16% (4-25) from beyond the arc. Key reasons the Bobcats went into the break with the lead include forcing eleven ERAU turnovers and not allowing the Eagles to get to the charity stripe.
NAIA All-American and reigning Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Year Nick Johnson tied the game immediately out of intermission and a triple soon after had the Eagles up 27-24.
The Eagles built their lead to 31-26 before Cobb buried a shot beyond the arc to cut it back to two. The game was tied at 34 with 12:11 on the clock and neither team led by more than three the rest of the game.
Westlake put UC Merced up 37-36 and his second three-point field goal tied the game at 41 with just under five minutes to go. The triple came after an Obiorah offensive rebound and it was one of just two second chance field goals the Bobcats recorded all game.
A possession later, Haywood earned a trip to the foul line and he hit the front end to give the Bobcats a 42-41 lead. The teams traded a field goal in the next two minutes and UC Merced led 44-43 with two minutes left.
The Bobcats lead marked the third straight Cal Pac road game dating back to last season in which the Bobcats have held an advantage in the final two minutes of action.
However, the lead was lost due to an Eagles putback with 97 seconds left and the Bobcats came up empty on their final three possessions to drop their first conference game, 46-44.
Prior to the loss, the Bobcats were 5-0 under Pham when holding opponents under 50 points.
Overall, the Bobcats shot a season-low 30% (16-53) from the floor, a season-low 15% (4-27) from distance and 67% (8-12) from the foul line.
The Bobcats held ERAU to just six free-throw attempts. Every other UC Merced opponent this season had earned at least ten foul shots.
Up next, UC Merced visits Benedictine University Mesa on Saturday, January 11 in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Tip-off from the Coyote Center at Chandler-Gilbert Community College is scheduled for 4:30pm PST.
