PRESCOTT, Ariz. – Cameron Brown scored 24 of his 28 points in the second half to help lead the University of California, Merced men's basketball team to a 76-62 win over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Thursday night inside the ERAU Activity Center.
With the victory, the Bobcats (12-6, 10-3) extend their winning streak to four games and all four wins have come by at least 14 points.
The Bobcats led by as many as 19 points in the win and tied the program-record for the most free throws made in a game with 28. Brown hit 12-13 free throws all in the second half, becoming one of just five players in program history to sink 12 foul shots in a night.
Overall, Brown finished with 28 points to go along with eight rebounds, four steals, and three assists. His scoring output was the second highest of his career and it was his second straight outing with 20+ points, 4+ steals, and three assists. Aside from his 12 made free throws, Brown made 8-12 field goals and cashed in his final six shots.
Jayson Wiltz stayed hot and splashed five of his eight three-pointers on his way to a 15 point night. He has scored double figures in every game of the winning streak and has shot 63% from three-point land in the stretch.
Jaron Mertle notched his second double-double in the last four games as he finished with ten points and 12 rebounds. With the effort, he moved into a tie with Ryan Edwards for sixth in program history with six career double-double's. The senior was sent to the foul line five times on the night and converted 8-10 free throws. Mertle also blocked two shots on Thursday and passed Ryan Haywood for seventh in program history with 36 career blocks.
Tiler Fears pitched in eight points and two steals, while Myles Haynes added six points and three rebounds. Skylar Robinson had five points, three rebounds, and two assists.
UC Merced led for the majority of the night and back-to-back Wiltz three-pointers within the first five minutes put the Bobcats up 12-5. Robinson followed with a pair of free throws to make it a nine-point advantage which would be the Bobcats biggest lead in the first half.
The Bobcats led 16-10 at the ten-minute mark but then lost the lead three minutes later after a 7-0 Eagles run.
Josiah Ajiake ended the run there with a steal and score and it sparked a 15-7 half-ending run for the Bobcats over the final six minutes. Ajiake was one of five Bobcats to score in the final first half push. Wiltz scored six of the final seven with two three-pointers and the Bobcats held a 31-24 lead at halftime. Defensively, UC Merced didn't allow an ERAU field goal in those six minutes as all seven points came at the foul line.
Fears scored first upon the restart of play to push the Bobcats lead to nine points. Brown gave the Bobcats their first double figure lead at 39-29 four minutes into the half but ERAU fought back with a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to pull within a possession.
UC Merced led 50-46 midway through before creating the separation that guided the Bobcats to victory. Mertle sank two free throws and then Brown scored on four consecutive possessions to put his team up 60-46. The 13-0 run peaked with a Wiltz three-pointer to make it 63-46 with seven minutes left in the game.
The margin remained between 13-17 points for the next three minutes before Chris Bramah extended the lead to 18 points. Brown officially gave the Bobcats a game-high 19-point lead at 76-57 inside of two minutes.
UC Merced finished the night shooting 44.7% from the field, 40% (6-15) from downtown and 75.7% (28-37) from the foul line. The Bobcats 27 made free throws tied the previous record originally set on February 9, 2013 at Menlo College.
With the win, UC Merced has swept Embry-Riddle for the second consecutive year and have now won six straight games against the opponent overall.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will play at La Sierra University on Saturday, February 3. Tipoff from Alumni Pavilion in Riverside, Calif., is scheduled for 8:30pm.
