MERCED, Calif. - Mason Westlake neared the program's single-game record with a career-high 33 points but the University of California, Merced men's basketball team fell 77-70 to first-time opponent Lincoln University on Tuesday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

Westlake becomes the third player in program history to score at least 30 points in a game, joining Aki Chambers and Joshua Kimble. Chambers holds the single-game record with 36 points (1/6/2013). Westlake's output was the highest total by any UC Merced player since Kimble went for 33 points at Multnomah University on December 5, 2014.

Westlake shot 54% (7-13) from beyond the arc and 53% (10-19) from the floor in the Bobcats (1-1) first loss of the season. The senior was the only Bobcat in double figures.

With his efforts, he passed George Idehen for tenth in program history with 663 career points. Westlake also had a steal and played a team-high 35 minutes.

Caleb Gilbert, who made his collegiate debut, was the Bobcats next leading scorer with seven points. Onkar Sidhu and Justin Nguyen pitched in six each and were solid in other statistical categories.

Sidhu grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists, while Nguyen upped his career-high's for the second straight game with five assists and four steals.

Other career-high's from Tuesday's game include seven rebounds from Tiler Fears and two blocks from Josiah Ajiake.

Jaron Mertle grabbed seven rebounds for the second straight night.

Sidhu scored the first four points of the night, which was tied for the Bobcats biggest lead throughout. The Bobcats also led by four at the 7-3 mark.

The game's first of three lead changes occurred with 15:19 on the clock as Julian Payton, the son of the Oaklanders head coach and NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton, knocked down his second triple of the night to give the visitors an 11-9 lead.

Westlake answered with a triple of his own to put the Bobcats back up 12-11, however Payton earned a trip to the foul line the next trip down the floor and his free throws put the Oaklanders on top for the rest of the night.

The Bobcats found themselves down by nine points at 25-16 and by double figures at 32-22. The biggest first half deficit was 12, 37-25 with three minutes to go before intermission. Westlake got his team within seven in the closing minute but the Bobcats trailed 40-30 at the break.

The deficit snapped a streak of six straight halftime leads for UC Merced.

The Bobcats were held scoreless for the first few minutes of the second half and were held to just one field goal until the 12:21 mark. At that point, the Bobcats were down by a game-high 17 points. 

Westlake cut the Bobcats deficit down to eleven at 55-44, but the Bobcats fell behind by 16 points shortly after. 

Head coach Kevin Pham's team had one final push that got them within two possessions late in the game. A push that started with back-to-back-to-back triples, including two from Westlake that cut the deficit to nine points. Sidhu converted a tough layup inside and a pair of Westlake makes at the foul line brought the Bobcats within five, 69-64 with three minutes left.

The Bobcats also trailed by five at 70-65. After Lincoln pushed their lead to nine, Gilbert cashed in a triple to make it a six-point game with a minute remaining.

Lincoln answered with a basket on their end to essentially put the game away.

The Bobcats (1-1) loss snapped a four-year streak of starting 2-0.

Georgie Nze and Jayson Wiltz made their collegiate debut in the setback. Wiltz knocked down a first half triple. Nze also saw first half action.

Both teams shot 41.7% (25-60) from the field. The Bobcats shot 34% (12-35) from beyond the arc and 42% (8-19) from the foul line. It was the Bobcats lowest free throw percentage since January 23, 2020.

Other team notables include grabbing eight offensive rebounds and forcing 13 Lincoln turnovers.

Looking ahead, UC Merced hosts Bethesda University of California on Friday, November 12 at 7:30pm to close out a season-long three-game homestand.