MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced men's basketball team won its fifth game in a row and remained perfect at home with a game-defining run down the stretch to beat Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 69-54 on Friday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

The Bobcats (6-2, 2-0) five straight wins marks the second longest streak in program history. Also of note, the Bobcats 5-0 start at home matches the best home start in program history originally set in the 2019-20 season.

UC Merced's Friday night game-ending run was a 30-14 run that stretched over the final 12 minutes of the contest. A DeDrick Martin three-pointer broke a 40-40 tie and the Bobcats never looked back. Head coach Kevin Pham's team's biggest lead was 16 points at 64-48.

Chris Bramah led the way for the Bobcats with a season-high 18 points on 64% (7-11) shooting. Bramah also had four rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal. 

Cameron Brown tied his career-high with 12 points and hit five of his six foul shots, while Kingsley Obiorah finished with eleven points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.

Jayson Wiltz was good for nine points and a steal. Jaron Mertle and Martin added six points in addition to seven and six rebounds, respectively.

Mason Westlake held team-high with four assists and three steals. His defensive efforts allowed him to pass Jonah Cottrell and George Idehen for seventh on the program's all-time steals list with 80 career steals. Westlake also grabbed five rebounds in the win.

UC Merced led for 36 of the 40 minutes and by double figures for the final seven minutes on Friday night. Obiorah garnered the Bobcats early momentum with his work down low and Bramah gave the Bobcats their first ten-point lead midway through the first half at 18-8. After Embry-Riddle stormed back to tie it at 22 and even take a two-point lead in the minutes leading up to intermission, Wiltz and Tiler Fears worked their way to the charity stripe and gave the Bobcats a 30-27 lead at the break.

The Bobcats held a lead between one and six points for approximately the first seven minutes of the second half, until the Eagles tied the game 40-40 and the Bobcats followed with their game-ending 30-14 run. 

Martin started the run with a make from downtown and Wiltz followed shortly after with a personal 7-0 run. A Westlake free throw with 6:58 to play gave the Bobcats the double figure lead they held the rest of the night. Brown was sure to keep the Bobcats in front by at least 13 points in the final two minutes by making five of six free throws.

UC Merced finished the game shooting 47% (23-49) from the field, 28% (6-22) from downtown, and 77% (17-22) at the charity stripe.

UC Merced outrebounded Embry-Riddle 37-25 and forced 14 turnovers. The Bobcats also limited Embry-Riddle to just 32% (18-56) from the field to beat the opponent for a third straight time dating back to 2020.

Looking ahead, UC Merced hosts Park University Gilbert on Sunday, December 4 at 7:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.