MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's basketball team set a program-record on Saturday with their 19th win of the season, a 63-57 overtime win over Simpson University on Senior Night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

All three UC Merced (19-8, 14-6) seniors scored in double figures on their special night and combined for the Bobcats first eleven points in overtime to help seal the record-breaking victory in the regular season finale. Mason Westlake, the program's all-time leading scorer, led all players with 18 points overall.

Adding to it all, the victory was the 100th career win for head coach Kevin Pham.

Westlake hit five three-pointers on his way to an 18-point night and hit three of his triples in the final four minutes of regulation and the overtime period. His scoring output made him just the second player in program history to score more than 400 points in a single season, joining Aki Chambers, who Westlake passed earlier this season for most career points. Westlake also dished out four assists to pass Mitch Flores for third all-time on the program's all-time list with 187 career assists, grabbed three rebounds, and had a steal on Senior Night. The East Riverside, Calif., native played all 45 minutes.

UC Merced's all-time double-double's leader Kingsley Obiorah was sure to get a double-double on his Senior Night and finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds overall. Obiorah also added four assists, two blocks, and a steal to his 12th double-double of the campaign. Seven of his 12 rebounds came on the offensive glass. Also of note, his second block tied his own UC Merced single-season record of 45 blocks originally set in the 2019-20 season.

Senior Georgie Nze also scored in double figures for the Bobcats, finishing with ten points on 67% (4-6) shooting and connecting on both of his attempts from downtown. Nze helped seal the victory in overtime with a three-pointer to put the Bobcats up six points with 55 seconds to go.

Tiler Fears added eight points and a steal. Josiah Ajiake and Chris Bramah scored six and five points, respectively, and each hauled in five rebounds. Ajiake was also credited with two steals.

The Bobcats, winners of seven of their last nine games, came out victors in two overtime games in February. This time around, the Bobcats were forced to play the extra period after Simpson beat the buzzer with 0.4 seconds left and banked in a three-pointer to tie the game 49-49.

In overtime, Obiorah won the opening tip and scored first for the Bobcats. He followed with four straight makes at the foul line and it was UC Merced on top 55-52 with two minutes to go in the extra period. After a defensive stop, Westlake knocked down a deep straightaway triple for his 300th career three-point field goal. Simpson answered with their own three-pointer to make it a one score game before Nze buried his clutch triple right in front of the Bobcats bench to make it 61-55 with under a minute remaining.

Nze's triple followed by two free throws from Fears was enough for the Bobcats to earn the 63-57 (OT) record-breaking 19th win of the season.

Prior to overtime, there were eight lead changes in each half and no team held a lead larger than two possessions. Simpson's biggest lead was four points early in the first half, while the Bobcats largest advantage was six points at 49-43 with two and a half minutes left in regulation. The two teams were tied 19-19 at halftime and 49-49 after 40 minutes of basketball.

Throughout the night, UC Merced held Simpson without a field goal for six different three-minute stretches. The suffocating defense allowed the Bobcats to hold Simpson to just 57 points, marking UC Merced's 27th consecutive victory when limiting opponents to less than 60 points dating back to 2019-20.

Forcing 18 turnovers also helped limit Simpson's offense.

UC Merced swept the regular season series against the Red Hawks for the second time in the last three seasons. (2020-21 season excluded as the two teams didn't meet).

Looking ahead, UC Merced will continue their historical 2022-23 campaign in the California Pacific Conference Championship Opening Round against Cal Maritime on Saturday, February 25 at 12:00pm PST.