Keelhaulers can't get over the hump vs. UAV

Cal Maritime (15-9, 7-3) were in a four-point game for a large stretch of the second half, but could never take the lead against UAV (11-11, 9-1) en route to a 73-63 loss.

The Keelhaulers had an opportunity to move into a first-place tie in the Cal Pac standings if they could avenge their loss from January 3 in Lancaster, but found themselve down 9-0 to start the contest.

After a timeout by Head Coach Brendan Rooney, senior Justin Eisen got the scoring started with a three pointer and then was fouled on a three-point attempt -- an occurance that would happen three times on the night -- and hit two of three free free throws to tie the game at 11 apiece.

But that's unfortunately as close as Cal Maritime would get, and the Pioneers would extend the lead as high as 14 with just under six minutes remaining in the first half. Maritime was able to cut it to single digits before the end of the half when junior Ben Borja hit a pair of free throws for a 35-26 score at the break.

The Keelhaulers were down 7 to 1 in the turnover and offensive rebound battle and were only shooting 31% from the field with some good looks at the basket wouldn't drop after the Cal Maritime corrected some shot selection mistakes later in the half.

The Keelhaulers were 8 of 10 from the free-three line at the half but they would be just 8 of 15 in the second, and the long-armed defense of the Pioneers deterred Cal Maritime from attacking the basket.

Maritime would trail by as many as 13 in the second half, but whittled the deficit down to four after sophomore Zavier Lucero hit a three from the top of the key, which was preceded by junior Josh Hauser hitting three three pointers from the same spot. A free throw by Junior Darnell Harris made the deficit four again with 14:25 to go, and it would remain a four-point game until UAV hit a three pointer of their own with 10:49 remaining.

UAV's lead would balloon to 11 again after a turnover led to points for the Pioneers with 7:35 to go. Free throws by Lucero with two and a half minutes left brought Maritime within five, but whenever the Keelhaulers would get within striking distance UAV would push the lead back to the 8-10 point range including the 73-63 final.

The Keelhaulers would cut the turnover disadvantage to three by the end of the game with two more steal than the Pioneers on the night, but they were outrebounde by nine including a seven-rebound advantage for the Pioneers in offensive rebounds. Cal Maritime shot just 27% from three-point range and 36% from the field, and although the Pioneers were only 24% from downtown and 50% from the free-throw ling themselve they shot 41% overall from the field.

Lucero led Cal Maritime in points with 18 to go along with 13 rebounds, a block. and a steal. Eisen finished with 15 points and 7 of 9 on his free-throw attempts, while Hauser had 14 points and seven rebounds with three assists while shooting 4 of 9 from three-point range. Harris led the team with eight rebounds on the night.

UP NEXT: The Keelhaulers will visith UC Merced on Thursday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m. to take on the Bobcats