MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's basketball team fell 70-64 to league-leading University of Antelope Valley on Saturday afternoon inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
Despite the loss, the Bobcats (14-7, 12-4) held UAV to their second lowest scoring output of the season. UAV, who entered the day averaging 86.0 PPG in California Pacific Conference play, scored 43 points in the first half but just 27 points in the second stanza. The Bobcats limited UAV to just a .242 field goal percentage in the second half and didn't allow a Pioneer three-pointer.
Cameron Brown led the Bobcats offensive efforts with 19 points and had two assists. The sophomore's scoring output brings him to 334 total points on the year which is the most of any UC Merced underclassman since Cole Taira in 2017-18. Overall, Brown's scoring total is eighth in program history in a single-season. Brown also had six rebounds against UAV.
Jaron Mertle scored a career-high 16 points on 60% (6-10) shooting. The Bobcats senior added six rebounds, a career-high three steals, two blocks, and two assists to his scoring output. Mertle's two blocks moves him ahead of Ryan Edwards for sixth in program history with 38 career blocks.
Chris Bramah pitched in 12 points and two steals, while DeDrick Martin grabbed nine rebounds.
Other notables include six points and five rebounds from Aidan Sevilla, five points from Tiler Fears, and a block and a steal from Martin.
UAV hit two three-pointers in their first three possessions and found success on the fastbreak to jump out to a 14-4 lead just over four minutes in. UAV also led by ten points at 22-12 before the Bobcats cut into the deficit with six straight points, including four from Brown to make it 22-18 midway through the first half.
The Bobcats fell behind by double figures again shortly after but were quick to come back within two possessions with the help of Myles Haynes. It was 37-32 UAV in front inside of 90 seconds but they doubled their lead in the short time span and carried a 43-32 lead into halftime.
UC Merced went to a zone defense in the second half and held UAV without a field goal for nearly the first six minutes, cutting the deficit back down to two possessions at 47-41.
Trailing 54-43 a couple minutes later, a Mertle three-pointer started a UC Merced 10-0 run to come within a point. Bramah also hit a triple in the surge, while Brown scored four points. The Bobcats also trailed by just a point, 56-55, with seven minutes left.
The Bobcats never ended up taking the lead or tying the game, but they stayed tight trailing 61-59 with five minutes left and 64-62 with two minutes left. The score remained 64-62 until UAV scored a second chance basket to double their lead with just 18 seconds to go.
Mertle scored once more for the Bobcats, but UAV knocked down all four of their free throws to seal the 70-64 win.
UC Merced finished the night shooting 40.7% from the field, 18.8% from downtown, and 61.9% from the free throw line.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will host Park University Gilbert inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium in Merced, Calif., on Thursday, February 15 at 7:30pm.
