PRESCOTT, Ariz. - Mason Westlake led all Bobcats with 17 points and Kingsley Obiorah recorded his first double-double of the season to propel the University of California, Merced men's basketball team to their second straight road win, 75-71 over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Friday night.

Overall, the Bobcats (5-9, 2-2) win was their program-best seventh straight Cal Pac road win dating back to the 2019-20 season.

The Bobcats leaders Friday night, Westlake and Obiorah, were also responsible for staving off a late Embry-Riddle comeback. Up by two and the shot clock off, Obiorah blocked what would have been the game-tying Eagles shot and then Westlake sunk a pair of free throws to essentially put the game on ice.

Aside from the two free throws, the rest of Westlakes' points all came from beyond the arc as he knocked down five triples en route to his highest scoring output in a Cal Pac game this season. His 17-point effort marked his fourth double-figure scoring game in the last five games. He also recorded two assists and two steals. With his pair of assists, Westlake passed Matt Laflin for eighth in program history with 100 career assists. 

Obiorah's double-double, coming in just his second game of the season, consisted of 13 points and ten rebounds. It marked the fifth double-double of his career. The Alameda, Calif., native shot 60% (6-10) from the floor. His exclamation point blocked shot, which potentially saved the game from going to overtime, was one of two blocks he had on the night. He is now just two blocks away from breaking Aaron Laflin's all-time record of 67 career blocks. The Bobcats center also had three assists and a steal in the victory.

Jayson Wiltz made it three Bobcats in double figures with 14 points, including 12 from beyond the arc while shooting 57% (4-7).

Onkar Sidhu stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals. Sidhu's seven assists tied his career-high, while his two steals marked his career-best third straight multi-steal game.

Tiler Fears added seven points and notched a career-high three steals off the bench.

Jaron Mertle and Georgie Nze pitched in five points each.

Both teams held double figure leads in the contest, including Embry-Riddle first at 22-12 midway through the first half. A pair of Wiltz triples helped the cut the Bobcats deficit down to two possessions. Trailing 34-29 later in the half, Wiltz led a half-ending 10-2 run that put his team up 39-36 at intermission. Nze buried his first career triple during the surge.

Head coach Kevin Pham's team maintained the lead for the first six minutes of the second half. Although the Eagles eventually jumped back in front, it was only for 16 seconds as Westlake responded with a three-pointer and then the Bobcats never trailed the rest of the game.

Later on, a Fears triple put the Bobcats up by a game-high 12 points with seven and a half minutes remaining. The Bobcats led by at least three possessions for the next three minutes before Embry-Riddle threatened to force overtime or win the game. UC Merced's lead shrunk to 73-70 with under a minute to play. It was 73-71 and Eagles ball with 22 seconds left. 

Embry-Riddle's most experienced player, Connor Verdugo, drove to his right and elected to go for the tie with nine seconds left but his layup was pinned against the backboard by Obiorah. The ball ended up in Westlake's hands and he bottomed both free throws to make it 75-71 with a few seconds left, sealing the game for the Bobcats.

UC Merced finished the night shooting 45% (28-62) from the floor, 38% (11-29) from beyond the arc and 53% (8-15) at the charity stripe.

The Bobcats 75 total points mark the most since scoring 82 in a win over Bethesda on November 12, 2021.

Up next, a quick turnaround as UC Merced visits Benedictine University at Mesa on Saturday, January 29. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30pm PST.