Keelhaulers end season-opening homestand with a 13-point win over PUC

VALLEJO, Calif. – Leading by six points at the half in Sunday's designated non-conference game at PEAC Main Gym against Pacific Union, the Keelhaulers scored the first five points in the second half on a three from Eric Norton, a layup from Landon Courtman, and never looked back as they maintained that double-digit cushion for the rest of the night to defeat the Pioneers, 82-69, and help Tim Bross collect his inaugural victory as Cal Maritime's head coach.

Cal Maritime will return to action on Wednesday at 7 p.m., when it heads to Menlo for its first road game of the season and enter that game against the Oaks with a 1-1 record. Pacific Union will return home at 0-1 since this was its inaugural game of the year.

In addition to that early 5-0 scoring outburst, Cal Maritime's defense held the Pioneers scoreless for nearly the first four minutes of action and allowed only four points in the first seven minutes of the half.

Norton led all Keelhaulers with 21 points on 8 of 14 shooting from the floor, and was one of two players who ended the night with a game-high eight rebounds. Amil Fields, Cal Maritime's other 20-point scorer, made five of his seven baskets from three, out of eight attempts from distance, to finish with that exact number of points in addition to a game-high eight boards. Divine Nwoko recorded nine of his 13 points throughout the opening half and rounded out the Keelhaulers' list of double-digit scorers.

Led by Norton and Fields, Cal Maritime outrebounded the Pioneers 39-26 overall, 30-19 on the defensive glass and 9-7 on offense; that rebounding prowess led to the Keelhaulers doubling PUC's paint points, 32-16.

Collectively, Cal Maritime hit half of their shots from the floor (30-for-60) compared to Pacific Union's .355 shooting clip (22-for-62).

Following Wednesday's game against the Oaks, the Keelhaulers will return to PEAC the following night to host Bethesda at 7:30 p.m.