Second-half surge powers Keelhaulers to semis

LANCASTER, Calif. - Down by as many as 12 points in Sunday's opening-round matchup vs. UC Merced at the Cal Pac Men's Basketball Championship, Cal Maritime dominated the second half, on both ends of the court, to record a 79-72 victory and advance to Monday's 5 p.m. semifinal against top-ranked Saint Katherine.

A live stream and live stats of this posteseason matchup are available by clicking here.

In the tournament opener, which took place at the Pioneer Event Center in Lancaster, California, Amil Fields led all Keelhaulers with 24 points, hit half of his six baskets from three and connected on another nine from the line. 

After chipping away at its deficit until halftime, trailing by only a point, Cal Maritime caught fire from the floor and powered its way to a come-from-behind victory. 

As a team, the Keelhaulers shot 48 percent overall after halftime and posted a blistering 59 percent shooting clip from three in a back-and-forth battle that saw 11 tied scores and 11 lead changes until a layup from Divine Nwoko and free throws from Cetrick Yeanay and Fields sealed the result. 

Benedictine-Mesa and Simpson will square off at 7:30 p.m. in the Championship's other semifinal.