Clutch threes push Thursday’s Cal Pac clash to the final seconds

VALLEJO, Calif. – Trailing by as many as 11 points in the second half, a flurry of threes versus Westcliff turned Thursday's game at PEAC Main Gym into a one-possession battle on the scoreboard for most of the second half.

What started with a pair of triples from Jamal Frenchwood continued with Drew Fischer canning a shot from distance on thee consecutive CSUM possessions. The three-point barrage continued with Illyaas Rafiq nailing a shot of his own followed by Alex Maze's shot, with 6:35 remaining, to tie the game at 63.

Trailing by two with just a handful of seconds remaining in regulation, Cal Maritime was forced to stop the clock by fouling Westcliff's Jeremiah Paulino.

With momentum building for the Keelhaulers leading up to that foul, Paulino hit both shots at the stripe to give his team a four-point advantage, one that held until the final buzzer in a game the Warriors won, 78-74.

By shooting 60 percent overall, 64 percent from three and 86 percent at the free throw line after halftime, men's basketball quickly negated Westcliff's game-high lead, one that was seven at halftime before swelling to double digits.

Led by Jake Matteson's 11 points, Cal Maritime's bench outscored their counterparts by seven.

Combined with Lucky Hampton's game-high 15 points — three of his four field goals were from behind the arc, and he was a perfect 4-for-4 at the line — and Frenchwood's 13 — his night was similar to Hampton because he was 3 of 4 from three and he connected on both free throw attempts — that trio led the Keelhaulers' offense and were responsible for seven of the team's 11 threes.

A quick turnaround awaits the Keelhaulers because La Sierra will visit campus Saturday night, tipoff is slated for 8:30 p.m.