STOCKTON Calif. – In the final non-conference game of the season, the Pacific men's basketball program downed Cal Maritime 80-66 on Saturday at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
 
The Tigers (6-9) used a 17-point scoring run late in the first half to create separation and stayed ahead of the Keelhaulers (0-12) the entire second half. Pacific shot .508 from the floor and limited Cal Maritime to a .386 mark.
 
Pacific recorded season-highs of 30 field goals made and 14 steals.
 
Pacific garnered four double-figure scorers. It included a game-high 15 points from senior Lesown Hallums, Jr. to go along with a season-high seven rebounds and a career-high four steals. Junior Tyler Beard was also a big contributor with 14 points and four assists.
 
With 12 points apiece was junior Cam Denson and senior Nick Blake. Denson also recorded five rebounds and three steals in the contest. The duo helped the Tigers outscore the Keelhaulers 48-14 in the paint.
 
The Tigers outrebounded Cal Maritime 33-32. The Keelhaulers were paced by DJ Henry's 13 points off the bench.
 
Pacific got out to an early 10-5 lead after a lay-up by Beard at the 14:03 mark. Cal Maritime came back to take a slight 12-11 edge at the 10:59 mark and was still ahead by one with 4:55 remaining.
 
The Tigers dominated the final minutes of the first half. A second chance bucket by Hallums started a 17-0 spurt which carried into the second half. The first half ended with a jumper in the closing seconds by Hallums to make it a 41-25 game at the break.
 
The 17-0 run was the largest by Pacific in a game this season. The Tigers extended it to 48-32 early in the second on a three by senior Donovan Williams.
 
The Keelhaulers tried to claw back in it and trimmed the deficit to 48-42 with 13:35 left, but the Tigers responded with an 8-0 run to go back up 56-42 after a basket by Blake with 11:54 to go.
 
Back-to-back buckets by Denson upped it to 73-55 with 4:16 remaining. A three by junior Greydon Edwards accounted for Pacific's final points in the final minute.
 
Pacific will open West Coast Conference play at home when it hosts San Francisco on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Spanos Center.
 
NOTES
- It was just the second-ever meeting between the two programs as the Tigers won 80-42 on Dec. 21, 2012. However, the win was later vacated along with the entire 2012-13 season.
 
- The Tigers improved to 804-444 all-time at home and 341-211 in the Spanos Center and 5-4 this season.
 
- Pacific improved to 5-1 this year when it posts a positive turnover margin. It forced 20 turnovers and committed 13.
 
- The Tigers are now 5-1 this year when leading at half.
 
- Hallums tallied his fifth double-figure scoring game of the year and 18 of his career. He was 6-of-10 from the floor. His seven rebounds matched his previous career-high set against North Florida on Nov. 19, 2022.
 
- Beard registered his third double-digit performance of the season and 19th of his career. He tied his season-high of 14 points against Stanislaus State on Dec. 18. Beard was 5-of-10 from the field.
 
- Denson, who was coming off a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds at Cal State Fullerton, submitted his eighth double-figure scoring performance of the year and 12th of his career. He was 5-of-8 from the field.
 
- Blake turned in his third consecutive double-figure scoring performance after missing the first 12 games of the season. It was his 28th career double-digit scoring game as he was 5-of-10 shooting.
 
- Sophomore Moe Odum entered the game ranked second in the WCC in assists per game (4.4) and dished out five.
 
- The Tigers have used their eighth different starting lineup in 15 games this year. Freshman Tan Yildizoglu made his first career start.
 


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