ROCKLIN, Calif. - The University of California, Merced men's basketball team hung around with sixth-ranked William Jessup University and led by as many as nine points, but ultimately fell 82-68 in an attempt to knock off the highest ranked opponent in program history on Friday night at the Bill Holtz Warrior Classic.

The Bobcats (1-1) had three double figure scorers in defeat and for the second straight game were money at the charity stripe shooting over 90%.

Jayson Wiltz and Chris Bramah shared team-high with 13 points, while Kingsley Obiorah finished with ten points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Wiltz, who knocked down two triples, has now scored in double figures in seven of his last eight games dating back to last season. Obiorah's efforts on the glass put him ahead of Matt Laflin for seventh on the program's all-time rebounding list with 374 career rebounds.

Cameron Brown and Mason Westlake scored nine points and seven points, respectively. Jaron Mertle hauled in ten rebounds.

Other notables include six points from Caleb Gilbert, four rebounds from Bramah and Brown, two steals from Wiltz, and two assists from Bramah.

Head coach Kevin Pham's team got out to a nine-point lead at 17-8 just over seven minutes into the night in part due to connecting on 50% of their early field goal attempts and a stifling defensive effort. Bramah and Obiorah scored four points each in the stretch. 

The Bobcats remained in front until the midway point of the first half. That lead change was followed by seven more lead changes leading up to intermission in which Jessup beat the buzzer to take a 38-36 lead into the break.

Obiorah evened the game on the Bobcats first possession of the second half, but that would be as close as the Bobcats would come to retaking the lead the rest of the night. The Bobcats were staring at a double figure deficit down 59-48 and worked to cut the deficit in half before falling behind by at least nine points the rest of the way. The Bobcats remained within 15 points throughout.

UC Merced finished the night shooting 39% (25-64) from the floor, 35% (8-23) from three-point land, and 91% (10-11) from the foul line.

Defense stood strong at points throughout the night for the Bobcats, who limited the Warriors to 82 points and on three occassions held the opponent without a field goal for a two and a half minute stretch. The 82 points number is of note due to Jessup scoring 90 or more points in five of their last seven home games dating back to last season. The Bobcats also forced ten turnovers. 

Looking ahead, the Bobcats will play Menlo College on a back-to-back on Saturday, November 5 at 4:30pm as part of the Bill Holtz Warrior Classic in Rocklin, Calif.