MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's basketball team earned a 67-63 come-from-behind overtime win against Westcliff University on Thursday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.

The Bobcats (16-6, 12-4), winners of four straight and seven of eight games, are now ten games over .500 for the first time in program history and head coach Kevin Pham's squad has now officially clinched a spot in this year's California Pacific Conference Championships.

UC Merced trailed by 13 points with eight minutes left and by five points in the final 30 seconds of regulation before forcing overtime. Mason Westlake scored six points in the final 30 seconds, while Tiler Fears got a crucial steal and then sunk a free throw with four seconds left that ultimately extended the game to overtime. The duo then combined for seven of the Bobcats ten points in overtime to help UC Merced win the game.

Kingsley Obiorah, the reigning Cal Pac Player of the Week, also played a huge role in the Bobcats win, scoring a career-high 27 points and grabbing 13 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season. He shot 52% (11-21) from the floor while becoming just the sixth player in program history make at least eleven field goals in a game. Obiorah also tied his career-high with three steals and blocked a shot.

Westlake finished with 15 points, including 14 combined in the final seven minutes of regulation and overtime. Westlake added three assists and two steals to his 13th straight double figure scoring effort.

Both Obiorah and Westlake moved into the top five in UC Merced's single-season history with their performances on Thursday night. Westlake now holds the fifth spot with 347 total points this year, while Obiorah cracked the top five with his 183rd rebound of the season. Career-wise, Westlake passed Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University alum Gilbert Ybarra for ninth in Cal Pac history with 1,289 points.

In addition, Obiorah blocked a shot to tie Simpson alum Ian Corella (2015) for the conference's all-time record with 113 career blocks.

Chris Bramah was good for ten points, while Fears finished with nine points and two steals.  Jaron Mertle grabbed nine rebounds, blocked a shot, and was credited with a steal. Josiah Ajiake and Bramah also had a steal.

The Bobcats second half double figure comeback was their second in their last six wins. The Bobcats trailed 36-21 at halftime, before flipping that score to force overtime.

The Bobcats started their final push inside of eight minutes when Obiorah caught a lob from Westlake and slammed it down with two hands to cut the deficit to 48-37. After a Westcliff answer, Bramah hit three-pointer in the corner to start a 7-0 run that pulled the Bobcats within two possessions at 50-45. The Bobcats extended the run to 11-1 over the next couple minutes, cutting the deficit to just a score at 51-49.

However, Westcliff put together a couple strong attacks to the rim to go up 55-49. Soon after, it was 55-50 with 30 seconds left.

Out of a timeout, Westlake drew a three-point foul with 21 seconds left and made all three foul shots to pull within two, and then after Westcliff made two free throws, Westlake dribbled down the floor and buried a deep three-pointer over two defenders to cut the Bobcats deficit down to a point at 57-56. Now with seven seconds remaining in regulation, Fears deflected an inbounds pass and was fouled trying to win the game. Fears cashed in his second free throw, tying the score at 57, and Westcliff missed a baseline jumper at the buzzer sending the game to overtime.

The Bobcats trailed 59-58 midway through the overtime period, but a Westlake layup gave the Bobcats the lead for good. Fears followed with a straightaway triple shortly after to go up 63-59. A pair of free throws each from Westlake and Nze iced the game for the Bobcats in their first overtime game of the year.

The Bobcats finished the night tying their season-high with 18 made free throws.

Under Pham, the Bobcats are now 4-1 in their last five overtime games dating back to the 2017-18 season. UC Merced also improved to 4-1 all-time against Westcliff under Pham.

Up next, UC Merced hosts University of Saint Katherine on Saturday, February 4 at 7:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.