Keelhaulers nearly complete comeback vs. Eastern Oregon

VALLEJO, Calif. – Down by 11 with just over four minutes remaining in Sunday's non-conference game at PEAC Main Gym, Cal Maritime battled pack and pulled within four points of Eastern Oregon. 

Following two free throws by Miles Pennington, another pair of free throws from Eric Norton pulled the Keelhaulers within eight at 72-64, with 2:52 on the clock.   

Also taking place between trips to the stripe was outstanding defense from Cal Maritime; it forced four miscues from the Mountaineers before Amil Fields canned a three from the near corner to turn this contest into a four-point game, with 66 seconds still left to play.

Held scoreless for nearly four minutes, EOU ended its drought with four unanswered points, on a layup and pair of free throws, to push its lead back to eight with 26 ticks remaining. That mini run ended up being the difference in the game since the Mountaineers were able to withstand Cal Maritime's late charge to collect a 77-69 victory.

Off until next Sunday when Antelope Valley visits Vallejo for a designated non-conference matchup — both compete in the Cal Pac Conference — Cal Maritime fell to 2-5 on the year with Sunday's result. Eastern Oregon will return home with a 5-3 record.

By hitting 4 of 5 baskets from three, and 5 of 6 attempts at the line, Amil Fields led all Keelhaulers with 19 points. That total represented half of his team's 38 bench points; he also ended with a team-high eight rebounds.

Xavier Lovelace paced the Pioneers with his double-double of 20 points and 11 boards, both game highs.