MERCED, Calif. - Mason Westlake had the hot hand late to extend the University of California, Merced men's basketball team's winning streak to six games with a 62-44 win over Park University Gilbert on Sunday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

The Bobcats (7-2, 3-0) have now started 3-0 in Cal Pac play twice in the last three seasons. Head coach Kevin Pham's team also remains perfect at home through six games.

Westlake finished with 23 points, including five three-pointers in the last eight minutes to extend the Bobcats lead to as many as 21 at 62-41. Westlake made three triples in a row in that stretch and five of his six attempts. Overall, Westlake tied his season-high with seven three-point makes and shot an impressive 58% (7-12). The grad student also had two steals.

It was a 40-36 game before Westlake knocked out the Buccaneers allowing the Bobcats to complete a three-game weekend sweep over the Arizona schools for the second straight season. 

While Westlake was the leading force offensively, UC Merced's defensive presence was stellar and the Bobcats 44 points allowed is the lowest scoring total for any team in a Cal Pac game since February 22, 2020. The Bobcats suffocated Park Gilbert all night, limiting them to just a .302 (19-63) field goal percentage.

Kingsley Obiorah notched his fourth double-double in the last five outings tallying eleven points and 12 rebounds. Five of his rebounds came on the offensive glass. Also of note, Obiorah was credited with a season-high four blocks. With his efforts, the Alameda, Calif., native moved into fourth place on two different all-time lists. He passed Lucas Birchard previously of William Jessup University for fourth most blocks in Cal Pac history with 99 career blocks, while he moved ahead of Ryan Haywood for fourth all-time in program history with 449 career rebounds.

Jaron Mertle grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds in the victory, just the fifth ever Bobcat to hit that mark on the glass all-time. Mertle also had a career-high seven assists to go along with six points and a block.

Freshman Cameron Brown registered a career-high eight assists. Brown is the Bobcats first freshman with eight assists in a game since the 2016-17 season and is one of just six Bobcats all-time with eight assists. Brown added six rebounds and four points to his performance.

Jayson Wiltz was good for seven points and Chris Bramah pitched in five points and seven rebounds. DeDrick Martin blocked a shot.

The Bobcats trailed just once the entire night and that was after Park won the tip and scored on their opening possession. Wiltz led the Bobcats on an 8-0 run shortly after. The two teams were tied 20-20 before Westlake gave the Bobcats the lead for good with a triple.

The Bobcats didn't allow a Park field goal the rest of the half and led 25-21 at intermission.

Pham's squad opened the second half with six straight points and a 15-4 run overall to go up by 15 points with 12 minutes left. Park responded with an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to four, before Westlake caught fire and put the game to bed with his last five three-point field goals. Bramah also hit a three down the stretch in the middle of the Bobcats game-ending 22-8 run.

UC Merced finished the night shooting 37% (23-62) from the floor, 38% (9-24) from beyond the arc, and 64% (7-11) from the foul line. The Bobcats assisted on 19 of their 23 baskets.

UC Merced outrebounded Park 47-34.

Looking ahead, UC Merced will play at University of Saint Katherine on Thursday, December 8. Tipoff from the USK Sports Complex in San Marcos, Calif., is scheduled for 5:30pm.