LOS ANGELES – The University of California, Merced men's basketball team fell short to Cal State LA 73-70 on Saturday afternoon.
The Bobcats (3-9, 1-7) rallied from an eleven-point deficit midway through the second half to tie the game with eight seconds left before the tough loss. With 0.5 seconds left, Cal State LA was fouled on a three-point attempt and the Golden Eagles Khemanni Davis hit all three foul shots to ultimately win his team the game. Davis finished with 20 points.
Sterling McClanahan led all scorers with a season-high 26 points off the bench. He knocked down six three-pointers on 50% (6-12) shooting from long range in the highest scoring output by any Bobcat this season. His six three-pointers are also the most by any Bobcat in two years and the most in a road game since November 23, 2022. McClanahan also tied his season-high with five rebounds and made all four of his free throw attempts.
Elijah Charles tallied 19 points on a perfect 100% (6-6) shooting to go along with eight rebounds. Charles is the first Bobcat in program history to shoot 100% from the field twice in his career with a minimum of five makes. The Bobcats senior also accomplished the feat in December of 2024.
Pawllos Habtom contributed 15 points, eight rebounds, and a career-high six assists. He shot 54% (6-11) in his third straight double-digit scoring effort.
Jaden Hubbard had six rebounds, five points, and a career-high tying four assists.
Other notables include five rebounds from Myles Haynes, four points from Jordan Bateman, and three steals from Jon Taylor.
The back and forth first half saw seven lead changes and six ties in the first ten minutes and no team leading by more than three points. Charles had six points in the opening ten and was one of five Bobcats with a field goal to start. Cal State LA was the first team with a two possession lead when it went up 21-17 with 8:40 on the clock.
The Bobcats used a 12-2 run over the next four minutes highlighted by a pair of McClanahan triples to go up 29-23 with 4:13 left. After Cal State LA scored six straight for the eighth tie of the first half, McClanahan put the Bobcats right back in front with another splash from beyond the arc. Cal State LA's Davis matched McClanahan to tie the game 32-32 at intermission.
Cal State LA pushed forward with a 7-0 run to start the second half while holding the Bobcats scoreless for the first three minutes. After a Bobcats timeout, Charles scored four straight. The Golden Eagles worked its lead back to seven points quickly and took a game-high eleven-point lead at 49-38 a few minutes later.
It remained a double-digit deficit for the Bobcats with ten minutes left before McClanahan continued his hot shooting from downtown and energized a quick 8-0 run to make it a one-possession game inside of eight minutes, 54-52.
The Bobcats trailed 63-55 with 5:00 left but the Bobcats kept fighting as Charles led his squad on a 9-2 run over the next 90 seconds to pull within a point.
The two teams traded points over the next minute and it remained a one-point game with two to play, 69-68. Following four straight Golden Eagle points to make it a two-possession game under a minute, McClanahan scored five straight including his clutch straightaway triple with eight seconds left to tie the game 73-73.
After a timeout from each team, Taylor deflected back-to-back Cal State LA inbounds passes in an attempt to get a defensive stop to force overtime. However, Cal State LA eventually inbounded the basketball and Davis was fouled on a corner three with 0.5 seconds left and he won the game at the free throw line. The Bobcats full court heave didn't fall.
Despite the loss, UC Merced held a +15 advantage on the boards but lost the turnover battle 15-8. Cal State LA shot 50% overall and 82% (14-17) from the foul line.
UC Merced maintained a .441 field goal percentage.
Up next, UC Merced will start a three-game homestand by hosting the tenth-ranked and currently undefeated Cal State East Bay Pioneers on Thursday, January 15. Tipoff from Hostetler Court inside the Joseph Edward Gallo Gymnasium is scheduled for 7:30pm.
