TURLOCK, Calif.---  With five minutes left in regulation, Stan State led 65-57 but the visiting UC Merced Bobcats outscored the Warriors 14-6 to send the game into the overtime.  UC Merced led 84-77 with just 20 seconds to go in overtime and held on for the 86-83 non-conference victory. Daniel Ameyaw and William Chavarin each had career nights with 21 points and 14 points respectively for the hosts.  Jeremiah Jones chipped in 14 points for Stan State.

FIRST HALF:  UC Merced (3-4) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game.  An old-fashioned three-point play by Daniel Ameyaw off a pass from Cameron Walker gave the Warriors an 8-6 lead at the 15:21 mark of the first half.  The game went back and forth in the next eight minutes with the Bobcats taking a 27-22 lead on a three by Jason Mertle.  Fabian Reichstadt's lay-up off a pass from Jason Cibull capped a 10-3 run by the Warriors as they took a 32-29 lead with three minutes left in the half.  Another trey by the Bobcats, this time by Tiler Fears gave the visitors a 35-34 lead.  Ameyaw's free throw tied the game at 35-35 heading into the half.

SECOND HALF:  The beginning of the second half was evenly played until a Jeremiah Jones' jumper gave the Warriors a 56-50 lead mid-way through the half.  A trey by William Chavarin off a pass from Jeremiah Jones increased the hosts' lead to 65-57 with 5:27 to go in regulation.  The Bobcats outscored Stan State 14-6 in the final five minutes capped by a Cameron Brown lay-up to the game at 71-71 with seven seconds left on the clock.  The Warriors had a chance for the game-winner, but their shot fell short as the game went into overtime.

OVERTIME:  Just like the second half, the first couple of minutes of the overtime was evenly played with Tiler Fears' trey giving the Bobcats a 78-76 lead with three minutes left in the overtime period.  The Bobcats increased their lead to 81-76 with less than a minute to go.  Cameron Walker's free throw but the deficit to 81-77 on the Warriors' next possession.  Two free throws by Fear increased the visitors' lead to 84-77 with just twenty-six seconds left in the overtime period.  Stan State (3-2) didn't go away as two free throws by William Chavarin and a trey by Jason Zimmer cut the deficit to 84-82 at the 16 second mark of the overtime.  Jayson Wiltz made two free throws to increase UC Merced's lead to 86-82.  Walker was fouled on the Warriors' next possession, and he went one-for-two from the line.  Jonathan Tchengang grabbed the offensive rebound but the Warriors' attempt to tie the game fell short as UC Merced held on for the 86-83 victory. 

CAREER NIGHTS:  Both Daniel Ameyaw and William Chavarin had career nights for the Warriors this evening.  Ameyaw scored a career high 21 points on eight-for-14 shooting from the field.  The Warrior post player grabbed seven rebounds and a steal.  Chavarin scored a career high 14 points off the bench in 24 minutes.  He added two steals and two assists to go with his two rebounds.  The senior was five-for-seven from the field including four-for-six from three-point land. 

FIFTH STRAIGHT:  Jeremiah Jones recorded his fifth straight game scoring in double figures with 15 points.  He tied his career high with five assists and had just two turnovers in 38 minutes of action. 
For the season, he is averaging 18.8 points per game while shooting 57% from the field. Jones has 15 assists with eight turnovers and five steals.

ONCE AGAIN:  Stan State for the third straight game had single digits in turnovers with just nine this afternoon.  The Warriors had 15 assists with nine turnovers this afternoon.  Jeremiah Jones had five assists and two turnovers while Cameron Walker had four assists with two turnovers.  William Chavarin had two assists with no turnovers and Jordan Smith had one assist and no turnovers.  Also with a positive assist to turnover ratio was Jason Cibull with two assists and one turnover.    

UP NEXT:  Stan State continue its three-game home stand this Wednesday, November 27 at 3:00 p.m. when the Warriors host Academy of Art at The Fitzpatrick Arena.  After the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Warriors will host their CCAA opener a week from today also at 3:00 p.m. when they entertain Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday, November 30.