Cal Maritime’s threes lead to key 73-59 victory

VALLEJO, Calif. – Cal Maritime opened Saturday's Cal Pac Conference game by recording four triples — three from distance and another on an and-1 possession — and continued to hit shots from distance at key moments for the rest of the night to defeat La Sierra, 73-59, inside PEAC Main Gym.

The Keelhaulers shot 6-for-13 from behind the arc in the first half 10-for-23 in the game to finish plus-12 overall compared to the Golden Eagles' shooting from three.

Jamal Frenchwood scored 14 of his season-high 24 points before halftime by canning 3 of 4 baskets from three, in addition to hitting all three shots at the line. Lucky Hampton ended the night with 13 points and a game-high seven rebounds with Jake Matteson finishing this crucial matchup with 11 and 4.

Leading by as many as 16 midway through the second half, LSU cut its deficit to four points until Cal Maritime responded by scoring 12 unanswered points to push its lead to that game-high margin. That run, plus the Golden Eagles' five-minute scoring drought helped preserve the Keelhaulers' playoff run entering the final week of the season.

Cal Maritime will end the weekend in fifth place, one-half game behind Simpson and La Sierra who are tied for third with one game in hand.

Men's basketball's next Cal Pac game of the season is its last: On February 22, it will host Pacific Union on Senior Night at 8:30 p.m.

La Sierra's final two game are against a UC Merced squad that is undefeated in league play this season and Simpson; the Red Hawks' final two games are on the road against Westcliff, a team currently sitting second in the Cal Pac standings, and the Golden Eagles.  

Before the Keelhaulers host the Pioneers in this rivalry showdown with playoff implications on the line, it will head to Chabot College Thursday night for its 7:30 p.m. non-conference series finale at Lincoln (CA). Earlier this season, CSUM defeated the Oaklanders, 104-74, at home in the inaugural meeting in program history.