Keelhaulers' Season Ends in Sweet 16

After one of the biggest victories in school history on Wednesday night with an upset of #2 Union, the Cal Maritime men's basketball team was on the brink of making history in its Sweet 16 matchup vs. #3 Warner. With a 9 point second half lead, the Keelhaulers seemed to be in control. Unfortunately, a late Warner run was the difference as Cal Maritime's season ended in a 73-65 defeat.

Cal Maritime jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead before Warner fought back to cut the deficit to two.

The Keelhaulers lead by as many as nine in the first half. They never trailed in the half.

Warner got a 3-point basket by Warren Hall with three seconds left to trim the deficit it six at the intermission.

In the second half, Daniel Radford hit a 3-point field goal to give the Keelhaulers an 11-point advantage with 13:03 remaining.

The Royal would respond with a 15-4 run to tie the game at 49 with 6:16 left. Warner would score on its next position to take its first lead of the game, on a Josh Ellis free throw. The Royal never surrendered the lead after that. Warner led by as many as 11-points before winning the game 73-65.

Cal Maritime was led in scoring by Daniel Radford who put in 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 3-of-4 from downtown. Radford was joined in double figures by Alec Fetzer (12 points) and Roman Delgado (13 points). Delgado also added ten points.

Four players scored in double figures for the Royals – Eddie Delegal (24 points), Josh Ellis (15 points), Nick Macon (14 points) and Antonio Ansley (11 points.). Delegal brought down 13 boards in the win.

Cal Maritime shot 37 percent (25-of-67) from the field and 32 percent (9-of-28) from beyond the 3-point line.

The Royal shot 50 percent (22-of-44) from the field and 27 percent (3-of-11) from downtown.

"The bottom line is I love our team. Obviously, we wish things went differently down the stretch. However, I would not trade one moment of our journey. These guys competed extremely hard and more importantly did it together. This is a special group who will never be forgotten," reflected Head Coach Bryan Rooney.

Cal Maritime finishes the year with 23 wins and continued the program's historic run with a fifth straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament including two Sweet 16 appearances in the last four years.

Go Keelhaulers!!!