SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's basketball team fell to a pair of top 10 opponents at the MacArthur Trust Classic over the weekend, dropping a 76-50 contest to sixth-ranked Arizona Christian in the season opener and losing 80-68 to tenth-ranked The Master's University.
The Bobcats (0-2) led by 12 points at halftime in the loss to The Master's.
Returning unanimous All-California Pacific Conference First Team selection Cameron Brown averaged 11.5 points per game, including scoring a team-high 15 points to go along with four rebounds and two steals against The Master's.
College of San Mateo transfer Pawllos Habtom scored at least eight points and hauled in six rebounds in each outing to start his UC Merced career.
Game One | No. 6 Arizona Christian 76, UC Merced 50
ACU'S tandem of Lorenzo Wright and Anthony Howell combined for 27 points on 78% shooting to lead the Firestorm to a victory over UC Merced in the first head-to-head meeting between the two teams since 2016.
Brown and Habtom shared a UC Merced high eight points. Habtom also shared game-high with three steals.
ACU led 36-16 at halftime before the Bobcats started to find a rhythm offensively and more than doubled their first half scoring, pouring in 34 points in the second stanza while shooting 52% (12-23) from the floor. However, ACU also had a good offensive second half with a 40-point frame.
The Bobcats were able to cut the deficit down to 16 points at 56-40 with 8:34 to play, but that was as close as head coach Kevin Pham's squad got the rest of the way. ACU built their lead back up to as many as 30 points at 76-46 on their way to their fifth consecutive win to open the year.
Elijah Charles made his UC Merced debut in the season opener, while Cyprus Graham made his collegiate debut. Blake Hudson added five points, three rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block off the bench.
Game Two | No. 10 The Master's 80, UC Merced 68
The Bobcats led 42-30 at halftime in their attempt to knock off their highest ranked opponent in program history in the second game of a back-to-back on opening weekend. UC Merced had to overcome a 25-18 deficit with eight minutes left in the first half to hold the double-digit halftime lead and got going with a 10-0 run in less than two minutes.
Brown had four points in the run, while Tiler Fears hit a three-pointer and Hudson capped the 10-0 run with a three-point play the hard way. Shortly after tied 30-30, Pham's team scored the final 12 points of the first half, holding the Mustang's scoreless for the final four minutes and change. Jaron Mertle started the 12-0 run with five straight points of his own, including a three-pointer.
Jayson Wiltz hit a triple on the Bobcats first possession of the second half to put the Bobcats up by a game-high 15 points at 45-30. However, that was the Bobcats last field goal for the next seven minutes and Mustangs essentially matched the Bobcats closing first half run with a 25-6 run of their own to jump ahead 55-51. The Bobcats pulled even at 55-55 but never led the rest of the game. UC Merced remained within two possessions until the final eight minutes when TMU went up 67-60. The Mustangs lead reached ten points, 72-62, inside of four minutes and as big a 14 points before the final buzzer.
Brown had 15 points and shot 7-8 from the charity stripe. Mertle finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Habtom had 13 points on a 100% (7-7) success rate at the foul line.
Fears and Hudson recorded nine points apiece. Hudson also had a career-high six rebounds and a career-high four assists.
Up next, UC Merced will host Stanton University in the 2024-25 home opener on Tuesday, November 12. Tipoff from the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium is scheduled for 7:30pm.
