MERCED, Calif. – Josiah Ajiake poured in a career-high 26 points and the University of California, Merced men's basketball team shot a season-high 56% from the floor in an 84-71 win over La Sierra University on Saturday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

The Bobcats (10-5, 6-3) have now shot 50% or better in three of their last four games, which have all resulted in wins by at least eight points or more.

Ajiake scored his 26 points off the bench behind a 67% shooting night overall. He also shot 56% (5-9) from behind the three-point line helping him become just the second Bobcat this year go for 25 or more points, joining Mason Westlake. Ajiake added four rebounds, two assists and a block to his scoring output.

Westlake finished with 19 points while connecting on five of his ten shots from downtown, marking his fifth game already this season with at least five three-pointers in a game. Westlake also finished with a career-high seven assists playing a key role in the Bobcats season-best shooting percentage as a scorer and a facilitator.

Kingsley Obiorah was good for 17 points, six rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Obiorah, who has shot the ball extremely well as of late to surpass Chiwike E'denchukwu for the highest career field goal percentage in program history at the moment, finished 80% (4-5) from the floor and 75% (9-12) at the charity stripe. His nine made free throws marked a career-high.

Tiler Fears tallied a season-high 15 points (.714/.667/.750) and tied his season-high's with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. His three steals tied his career-high while earning his first start of the season.

Chris Bramah pitched in six rebounds, five points, four assists, and a season-high two blocks.

Other notables include four rebounds from Ruke Agbabune and a block from Jayson Wiltz. Agbabune made his first start of the season.

Head coach Kevin Pham's squad scored on its first possession and three of their first five to grab an 8-4 advantage through three and a half minutes. A 6-0 La Sierra run followed, which saw the first of seven lead changes over the next six minutes.

La Sierra would end up leading 27-20 with five minutes to go before intermission, but the Bobcats managed to cut the deficit down to just a possession heading into the locker rooms. Ajiake had eight points in the final five minute stretch.

After trading scores to start the second half, the Bobcats went on a 20-4 run to go up by as many as 12 points with 13:49 to go in the game. The run that started with an Obiorah basket stretched five minutes and allowed the Bobcats to lead by at least two possessions the rest of the game.

UC Merced led by nine points with four minutes left while getting their advantage back to double figures in the closing minute. Obiorah made two foul shots with 30 seconds left to give the Bobcats a game-high 13 point lead. His foul shots also were the final points scored in the contest.

UC Merced finished the night hitting 14 of their 19 foul shots overall (74%).

Also of note, the Bobcats outrebounded La Sierra 34-21.

Up next, UC Merced takes on Simpson University on Saturday, January 14 at 7:30pm inside the James M. Grant Center in Redding, Calif.