LANCASTER, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's basketball team lost 82-70 to regular-season champion and #21 University of Antelope Valley on Saturday night inside the Pioneer Event Center.

Kingsley Obiorah led the Bobcats (17-8, 13-6) with 21 points on 86% (6-7) shooting from the floor and 82% (9-11) from the charity stripe. Obiorah, who became the first Bobcat this year with back-to-back 20-point games on the road, also grabbed seven rebounds, tied his season-high with four blocks, and was credited with a steal. With his efforts, Obiorah moved ahead of Jessup University alum Joseph Mitchell for ninth in Cal Pac history with 581 career rebounds.

Mason Westlake scored 13 points and dished out five assists, marking his fifth game of the campaign scoring in double figures while recording four or more assists.

Chris Bramah made a season-high three triples and was good for eleven points, four rebounds, and a block overall.

Cameron Brown and Josiah Ajiake scored eight points each. Ajiake splashed two of his four three-pointers. Myles Haynes pitched in five points, five rebounds, and a block. DeDrick Martin also blocked a shot.

The Bobcats trailed by 22 points at 50-28 with two minutes to play in the first half before pulling within four points midway through second half. The Bobcats booked a 30-12 run to make it a game. Head coach Kevin Pham's team's run started with seven straight points to end the first half.

The two teams traded scores early in the second half with the margin staying between 13 points and 17 points for the first six minutes. The Bobcats closed the deficit further with a 9-0 run highlighted by back-to-back Bramah triples, pulling the Bobcats within five points at 56-51. After falling back behind by ten points, Westlake led a charge to get the Bobcats down to four points at 62-58 with just under ten minutes remaining.

However, the Bobcats were unable to close the gap any further and trailed by double figures for the final six and half minutes, ultimately falling 82-70.

UC Merced finished the night shooting 38% (21-55) from the floor, 24% (5-21) from downtown, and 77% (23-30) from the foul line. The Bobcats 23 made free throws marked a season-high.

The Bobcats won the turnover battle on Saturday night, forcing 14 UAV turnovers while committing 13.

Looking ahead, UC Merced hosts UC Santa Cruz for the first time since 2016 on Thursday, February 16 at 7:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.