Cal Maritime wins shootout at La Sierra, Fields finishes with a season-high 28 points

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Amil Fields ended Saturday night's Cal Pac contest at Alumni Pavilion with a season-high 28 points, but it was his last six that were earned during a crucial portion of the game since all those points were earned at the free throw line, on three straight Cal Maritime possessions after collecting a defensive rebound on three desperation three-point attempts from the Golden Eagles throughout the last 42 seconds of action.

By connecting on all six of the Keelhaulers' final free throw attempts, Fields turned a one-point lead into the game's final score as La Sierra did not score a point throughout that same timespan in a game Cal Maritime won by a 92-85 score.

Fields also led all players with a season-high 14 points to notch his fourth double-double of the season.

Cal Maritime will now head to Antelope Valley for Monday's 7:30 p.m. matchup against the Pioneers with a 12-8 overall and 7-3 league record. La Sierra will continue its season at 8-16 and 5-8.

The Golden Eagles enjoyed a strong start to the night and led by a 28-19 score with nine minutes left in the first half, but by the time halftime arrived, it was Cal Maritime that held a two-point advantage leading 45-43.

It never trailed the rest of the game.

La Sierra did pull within one point of the Keelhaulers on three occasions throughout the second half, but they responded on each occasion by building its lead to a two-possession margin, or more, each time. And when the game entered crunch time, it was Fields who came up with one clutch shot after another as he singlehandedly outscored the Golden Eagles, 8-2, in the last 100 seconds of the game.

Also shining in Riverside this night was Lucky Hampton, who scored a career-high 18 by canning 7 of 11 shots (62.6 pct.), including three from three, in addition to finishing with six boards.

Cetrick Yeanay and Eric Norton finished with 11 and 10 points apiece; combined with Fields and Hampton, the Keelhaulers' quartet were responsible for 73 percent of the team's offense.

Cal Maritime's reserves also played a key role in Saturday's victory since they outscored La Sierra's bench players, 48-22.