Second-half scoring surge leads to seventh-straight rivalry victory

VALLEJO, Calif. – Pacific Union's four-point halftime lead was its last highlight of the night because Cal Maritime dominated the entire second half on both sides of the floor once action resumed. In addition to recording more than twice as many points after the break — the Keelhaulers  scored 54 compared to the Pioneers' 24 — and hit over half of their shots from the floor (15-for-29) to defeat their rivals, 85-59. 

With that result, men's basketball collected their seventh win in a row versus PUC and extended their current win streak to three games.

Victorious in the first two of its current five-game homestand, Cal Maritime will return to PEAC Main Gym on Thursday with a 9-11 overall and 8-5 league record. Tip-off against Embry-Riddle that evening is set for 7:30 p.m.

That will kick-off a block of basketball that includes three games within four days; following its matchup against the Eagles, CSUM will host Benedictine Mesa on Friday and Park Gilbert on Sunday. Both games will start at 7:30 p.m.

In Saturday's game against Pacific Union, a three from Everett Perrot and consecutive free throws from Miles Pennington turned CSUM's four-point halftime deficit into a one-point lead early in the second half. Additional free throws from Perrot and Lunden Taylor were followed by a Shawn Kelly dunk that nearly blew the roof off PEAC Main Gym.

Divine Nwoko's layup capped Cal Maritime's 14-0 run, which visibly knocked the Pioneers on their heels since they did not score their first points of the half until the 14:19 mark.

Another 5-0 CSUM scoring spurt extended its lead to 14, and the Keelhaulers never looked back as they pushed that advantage to a game-high 26 points with just over two minutes left to play.

Led by Kelly and his career-high 12, Cal Maritime out-rebounded Pacific Union 43-29 overall. Those created opportunities led to 32 points in the paint and 17 second chance points (the Pioneers finished with zero second chance points). 

For PUC (2-20, 2-11), it was picking your poison: Led by Miles Pennington's 19, four Keelhaulers scored double figures with Kelly finishing one point shy of joining this group. Taylor posted 18, Perrot added another 14 and Nwoko ended his night with 12. 

Combined, that quartet outscored Pacific Union's entire team by four.