MESA, Ariz. – The University of California, Merced men's basketball team used a stifling defensive effort and proved to be clutch down the stretch to knock off Park University Gilbert 58-52 on Saturday night to finish off one of the longest road trips of the season.
The Bobcats (8-5, 6-2) made two game-tying field goals and two go-ahead field goals in the final three and a half minutes, including Chris Bramah's go-ahead basket with 68 seconds left that ultimately proved to be the difference maker.
Defensively, UC Merced held Park to 28% shooting in the final stretch and just 30% for the entire night. The Bobcats opponents field goal percentage was the lowest since the season opener.
Cameron Brown stuffed the stat sheet for the Bobcats with 18 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high five steals. Brown's five steals were the most by any Bobcat since 2020 and he is one of just seven players in program history with at least five steals in a game.
Bramah scored nine points, while Skylar Robinson and Tiler Fears scored eight points each. Robinson also grabbed seven rebounds and recorded three blocks. Jaron Mertle finished with four points, four assists, and five rebounds.
UC Merced started the night holding Park to just two made field goals over the first ten minutes. The Bobcats scored eight points in that stretch and then after falling behind 11-10, head coach Kevin Pham's team responded with a 9-0 run highlighted by a pair of baskets off turnovers. With the run, the Bobcats led 19-11 with four minutes remaining in the first half.
The Bobcats lead shrunk to a point before building it back up to five points and then carrying a 23-21 lead into intermission.
UC Merced held a 29-25 lead four minutes into the second half before both teams went on a run. Park put an 11-2 run together over a five minute stretch and then the Bobcats punched back with an 8-0 run to retake the lead at 39-36 midway through the period. Fears scored four points in the run, including the bucket for the lead change.
Park retook the lead at 42-41 with six minutes left and then led 47-45 with three and a half minutes remaining. Robinson hit the Bobcats first game-tying bucket in the final stretch and then Brown followed suit to tie the game at 49-49 with 2:22 on the clock.
Tied 51-51 inside of 90 seconds, Bramah took his turn at coming up clutch and he knocked down a go-ahead shot that was ultimately the final lead change of the night.
Then, Robinson blocked a shot on the other end of the floor and the Bobcats went 3-4 from the foul line to help seal the win. Brown got a steal and score right before the buzzer to record his five-steal night and put the finishing touches on the 58-52 victory.
UC Merced finished the night shooting 39.3% from the floor, 10% from downtown, and 61.9% from the charity stripe. The Bobcats shot 54.2% from the field in a stronger second half.
Also of note, the Bobcats forced 16 Buccaneers turnovers.
The Bobcats improved to 4-0 all-time against the Bucs with the win.
Up next, UC Merced begins a four-game homestand against Westcliff University on Thursday, January 18 at 7:30pm inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
