Seventeen unanswered points leads to blowout victory at PUC

ANGWIN, Calif. – In the first half of Tuesday's Cal Pac Conference game inside Covered Wagon, Pacific Union enjoyed its lone highlight of the night when it took a game-high three-point lead 20 seconds after tipoff. From that point on, it was all Cal Maritime as the Keelhaulers extended their overall win streak against the Pioneers to six games and collected their fifth-straight road victory over their league rivals by an 80-62 score.

By shooting 6 of 7 overall, DeAndre Minor led the Keelhaulers with 16 points; Lucky Hampton shot an efficient 6 of 9 and hit both free throws to end his evening with 15; Angelo Nicandro also added another 10.

Hampton singlehandedly silenced the crowd during a three-plus-minute portion of the second half that saw the Keelhaulers score 17 straight. Of that total, the junior guard was responsible for 11 and capped CSUM's dominating run with a layup and dunk on consecutive possessions.

Also taking place throughout that timespan were a pair of threes: Alex Maze hit one from distance with D.J. Henry earning his on an and-1 possession.

Led by Justice Cole with six and Daniel Andreyev with five, all 10 Cal Maritime players recorded at least one rebound to help the team with the rebound battle by a plus-8 margin.

Both teams finished with matching three-point field goal (6) and free throws made (14) totals, but the visitors, thanks to that second-half scoring outburst, shot .476 overall by canning 30 of 63 shots versus Pacific Union's 21 of 52 (.404 pct.) shooting performance.

Cal Maritime dominated down low by scoring more than double the Pioneers' paint points total; the Keelhaulers recorded 44 of their points around the basket compared to their opponent's 20.

Men's basketball's bench also shined all night long as that group earned 37 of the team's points compared to PUC's reserves who were limited to seven.

The first half saw an outstanding display of ball protection since CSUM only turned the ball over once. 

When action resumed after halftime, Cal Maritime turned a 46-40 advantage into a decisive 63-40 score by scoring 17 straight points, which ultimately sealed the result for the Keelhaulers even though 12 minutes still remained in the game.

Tuesday's victory improved CSUM's record to 2-12 overall and 2-5 in league play; Pacific Union will continue its season at 0-15 and 0-8.

Since U.S. Coast Guard exams are taking place this week inside PEAC Main Gym, men's basketball will return to Angwin on Thursday as the designated home team in a 7:30 p.m. neutral-site contest against Antelope Valley.