Men’s basketball drops road game to Bobcats

MERCED, Calif. – Lucky Hampton enjoyed a perfect night at the free throw line by hitting all six shots in Saturday's Cal Pac Conference game at UC Merced and led all Keelhaulers with 17 points. DJ Henry scored 15 points by connecting on 4 of 6 attempts from the floor and 6 of 8 at the stripe; DeAndre Minor shot 7 of 11 from the floor to finish his night with 14. 

Cal Maritime's success at the stripe — it made 9 of 10 attempts in the first half — and lack of turnovers — it only committed six miscues before halftime — were key reasons why it held a 41-37 lead entering the locker room at the half.

By scoring the first eight points after halftime, UC Merced took the lead until a three from Illyaas Rafiq tied the score at 47. Following that shot, the Bobcats scored another seven unanswered to take the lead for good in a game it won by an 87-63 score.

Cal Maritime will wrap-up its current three-game road swing during its final trip of the season to Southern California next week and will square off against Saint Katherine on Thursday, and visit Westcliff two days later before returning home for its next set of games — all taking place inside PEAC Main Gym versus La Sierra (2/8), Embry-Riddle (2/10) and Pacific Union (2/13).