Oakland, CA - This has been a year of firsts for the Bobcats of UC Merced. They got their first win in program history on December 29th against University of BC, they got their first player of the week award last week (Aki Chambers). Tonight they travelled to Tobin Gymnasium where they were looking for their first California Pacific Conference win. The Hawks jumped on them early, but the Bobcats recovered and it took OT for HNU to not allow UC Merced their first win (81-79).

The first half found the Hawks and Bobcats taking time to settle into the game. It was the Bobcats Martin Harris who would score first after stealing the ball from Karlos Grier. Grier would answer shortly after with a penetrating drive and finishing the three point play at the free throw line. Both teams would be scoreless over the next three minutes before Ian Collins offensive put back to put the Hawks up by 3 (5-2) with 16:15 left in the half. Hawks would attempt to pressure the Bobcats but would give up a layup to cut the Hawks lead by 1. Over the next 7 minutes the Hawks would put together a 20-5 run to go up 25-10. UC Merced would hang in there and chip away at the Hawks lead and with 29 seconds left would cut the Hawks lead to 1 (35-34). Zac Sewitsky would get fouled at the buzzer and have an opportunity to put the Hawks up three before going in, but only managed to score one of two.

"We did not do a good job of sustaining the pressure that allowed us to earn the 15 point lead early in the half, but to their credit they are scrappy and crawled back in the game. We had plenty of opportunities, but I thought we also did a poor job of executing our quick-hitters," says Coach Sanchez.

Fabian Lopez opened up the half for the Hawks with a score on the block. But Ahmed Elhendy answered back with a jumper for the Bobcats. First five minutes of the half both teams struggled to score, but HNU managed to build a nine point lead after a free throw by Mike McElroy. Over the next 7 minutes HNU would manage to maintain a five point lead. The Bobcats would stick around and at the 5:40 mark after an offensive put back by Aki Chambers would take its first lead of the game (57-58). Fabian Lopez would answer back with a 12 foot jumper at the top of the key. With 3:41 left HNU would build a five point lead, but a minute later Merced would cut that lead to one point (67-66). After Colby Herron made one of two free throws with this would put the Hawks up by two (68-66). With 57 seconds left it would be Mitchell Flores who would penetrate middle and throw up the floater shot and connect to tie the game at 68 all.  At the 29 seconds mark it was Karlos Grier who would penetrate middle from the left wing to try and get to the rim, and on the missed shot he was able to get his own rebound and call a timeout with 22 seconds left.

"I wanted us to take the last shot and not give them an opportunity to score," mentioned Coach Sanchez.

With 12 seconds left Mike McElroy would drive to the basket off an on ball screen by screen by Richard Craig and with no one open, pulled up with 8 seconds and kissed it off the glass to put the Hawks up 70-68 with 7 seconds left. The Bobcats would march down the court and it was Anthony Shephard who would throw up the pray shot with time running out to send the game into OT.

The overtime proved to be a battle with neither team able to get a stop, both teams exchanging buckets. There were 3 ties and 5 lead changes in the OT, and it would come down to HNU getting a turnover off of Martin Harris with 3.7 seconds left on the clock. Coach Sanchez would call a timeout.

"I knew that 3.7 seconds was lots of time for us, so I wanted to put my players at ease by telling them that," says Coach Sanchez.

The Hawks set up in a 1-4 set and get the ball to Colby Herron around half court; Herron would take three dribbles and dump it off to Karlos Grier under the rim. Grier kissed it off the glass and with time expiring made the lay-up to win the game for the Hawks!

"We went away from our defensive concepts in this game and it was to the advantage of Merced. At the end of the day good teams find ways to win, and we are learning how to be good, so I will take it," added Coach Sanchez.

Two Bobcats had monster games, Aki Chambers finished with a game high in both rebounds and points with 29 points and 18 rebounds. George Idehen finished with 7 points and 13 rebounds. Notably, combined Chambers and Idehen snatched 31 of the Bobcats 42 total rebounds.

For HNU four finished in double figures. Senior guard Karlos Grier led the way with 20 points, Lopez and Craig each chipped in with 11 points each. Mike McElroy added 11 of his own, but also added 11 rebounds to finish with a double-double for the Hawks. Notably, Ian Collins finished with 7 points and 11 rebounds.

Next for the Hawks is Simpson University on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 4pm. Come out and Support your Hawks!