MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's basketball team showcased its strong defense once again and grinded out a 61-57 win over Fresno Pacific on Friday night inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium.
The Bobcats (2-1) have now held back-to-back opponents under 60 points to start a winning streak.
Elijah Charles posted his second consecutive double-double finishing with 18 points and ten rebounds. His 18 points came while shooting 72% (8-11) from the floor and he also added a career-high four assists, one block, and one steal.
Sterling McClanahan contributed eleven points and five rebounds. He knocked down a pair of three-pointers.
Jaden Hubbard had nine points while shooting 100% (5-5) at the foul line to go along with three rebounds and two steals.
Myles Haynes added seven points, four rebounds and two blocks. Pawllos Habtom pitched in six points and seven rebounds, while Jordan Bateman and Austin Dewes had four points and three rebounds each.
The Bobcats led for the majority of the night, including the final 19 minutes and had a game-high lead of 10 points midway through the second half.
After FPU scored first, Charles tied the game the next trip down the floor and McClanahan followed with a triple to give the Bobcats their first lead of the night at 5-2.
UC Merced's defense was stellar to start as the Bobcats held FPU to just three field goals in the opening ten minutes of the game and had FPU on nearly an eight-minute field goal drought from the 16:23 mark to the 8:59 mark of the first half. Head coach Gary Stewart's squad built its lead up to as many as seven points on two occasions in the stretch.
The Bobcats led by six points at 24-18 inside of four minutes after a Bateman layup. However, FPU found a bit of an offensive groove and outscored the Bobcats 13-6 the rest of the half and took a 31-30 lead into halftime. The Sunbirds knocked down three three-pointers in the burst.
Charles tied the game with a free throw on the first possession of the second half and then a Hubbard jumper on the next possession gave the Bobcats the lead, and the lead never vanished.
FPU pulled within a point a couple times, but the Bobcats always answered right back including with a 7-0 run capped by a Dewes dunk to extend the lead to a then game-high eight points at 44-36 with 13:06 left in the game.
A little later, Hubbard was fouled on a three-point attempt and he knocked down all three foul shots to put UC Merced up by double digits for the first time at 49-39.
The Bobcats led 54-45 after a Haynes three-point play with five minutes to go. The Bobcats lead was cut back to one point again, 56-55, with 2:33 on the clock.
UC Merced held FPU without a field goal in the final 2:33 to close out the win. UC Merced also didn't score a field goal in the closing minutes, but made five free throws to get the job done.
Habtom hit the biggest free throws with 13.2 seconds left to put UC Merced up 61-57 and ultimately win the game.
UC Merced finished the night shooting 44% from the field, 15% (2-13) from downtown, and 68% (15-22) at the free throw line.
The Bobcats held FPU to just 32% from the floor and 20% from beyond the arc. The Bobcats also forced 17 turnovers and held a +5 rebounding advantage.
UC Merced has back-to-back wins over FPU after losing nine straight against the Sunbirds from 2011-2023.
UC Merced is also 2-1 or better through the first three games for the seventh time in the last nine years.
The Bobcats have won ten straight regular-season games on Hostetler Court dating back to last season.
Next up, UC Merced will play an exhibition game at Saint Mary's on Saturday, November 23. Tipoff from University Credit Union Pavilion is scheduled for 7:30pm in Moraga, Calif.
