MERCED, Calif. - Ryan Haywood tallied an 18-point, eleven rebound double-double and the University of California, Merced men's basketball team scored 40 points in the second half to get by Cal Maritime, 66-59 Saturday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (11-6, 3-2) have defeated the traditional Cal Pac powerhouse five times in the last six meetings, including three straight on Hostetler Court. Every other Cal Pac team has lost at least twice to the Keelhaulers in the same time span.
Saturday night marked the first time the Bobcats scored 40 points in a Cal Pac half this year. Head coach Kevin Pham's team did so by shooting 50% (13-26) from the field and 72% (13-18) from the foul line. The Bobcats also erased a nine-point deficit with the offensive clinic.
Defensively, the Bobcats forced Cal Maritime into 18 turnovers on the night and slowed down a red hot offense. Cal Maritime came in averaging 83.2 PPG and hadn't been held under 65 points all season.
Haywood's double-double was the second of his career and he added six assists in the homestand opener. The senior guard played the entire second half for the third time this season.
Haywood was one of three Bobcats in double figures and was joined by Jonah Cottrell and Chiwike E'denchukwu. Cottrell finished with 15 points and a season-high three steals, while E'denchukwu had 14 points, four rebounds and two steals.
Andrew Williams added nine points off the bench. Five of his nine points came from the charity stripe late in the contest.
For the fourth time in conference play, UC Merced scored on its first possession and this time it was it E'denchukwu powering through 2019 unanimous All-Cal Pac First Team selection Zavier Lucero.
Haywood followed with five straight points of his own and the Bobcats led by two possessions at 9-3 five minutes in. The Bobcats also forced four turnovers in the same time span and would force 18 by night's end.
The Bobcats led for the first ten minutes of the half before Lucero evened the contest 14-14 during a 12-0 Cal Maritime run. The Keelhaulers led 19-14 at the runs climax.
Haywood staved off any further damage as he weaved through defenders and found an open Cottrell in the corner for three.
Though, the two point UC Merced deficit would become five on the other end of the floor and the Bobcats trailed by at least two possessions for the final six minutes of the first half.
The Bobcats were within five a good chunk of the time but the Keelehaulers lead grew to nine at intermission, 35-26.
The Bobcats halftime deficit was the biggest at home since November 29, 2017 and the biggest halftime deficit at home in conference play since February 4, 2016.
Out of the break, Williams and Obiorah both scored off Maritime turnovers to cut the deficit to five, 35-30. After an E'denchukwu bucket, Keelhauler head coach Brendan Rooney called a timeout in attempt to halt the Bobcats momentum.
Williams made it a 35-34 game but Cal Maritime answered with a 5-0 run to go up two possessions.
The Bobcats were also down two possessions at 42-38 before coming back to grab their first lead since midway through the first half. Playing in his first game since November 22 due to injury, Justin Nguyen helped make it happen with a steal and then found a cutting Haywood who got the layup to go while hacked.
Haywood made the free throw to make it a three-point game at 45-42, capping off a 7-0 Bobcat run.
The lead only grew from there. A Cottrell triple put the Bobcats up 50-43 and almost immediately after, the sharpshooter intercepted a pass and threw it ahead to E'denchukwu for a one-handed slam.
After a Cal Maritime timeout, Kingsley Obiorah sunk a pair of free throws to go up by double figures for the first time, 54-43.
Williams followed with a successful trip to the charity stripe which accounted for the biggest lead of the game, 56-43 with seven minutes remaining. At that point in time, the Keelhaulers were only halfway to their season scoring average.
They did heat up down the stretch though and cut the Bobcats lead down to five multiple times, including 61-56 with 101 seconds left.
With Cal Maritime attempting to make it a one possession game, Haywood finalized a defensive stop with his tenth rebound to notch his double-double.
Westlake and Williams helped seal the victory with free throws in the final 45 seconds.
Overall, the Bobcats shot 43% (23-53) from the field, 25% (5-25) from distance and 75% (15-20) from the foul line.
Other notables include scoring 23 points off turnovers and limiting the Keelhaulers to just four trips to the charity stripe.
The Bobcats improved to 8-1 on Hostetler Court overall and 2-0 in Cal Pac play. The Bobcats are one of three teams undefeated at home during conference play and host La Sierra University and University of Antelope Valley next week.
The action begins on Thursday, January 23 when the Golden Eagles of La Sierra come to town. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30pm.
