VALLEJO, Calif. – In the first top-25 matchup ever hosted by Cal Maritime, the 10th-ranked Southern Oregon men's basketball team was not up to the No. 23 Keelhaulers' challenge Saturday throughout a 74-58 nonleague loss.
Cal Maritime forward Zach Davis went 9-for-11 from the field for 23 points and eight rebounds, and the Keelhaulers (7-4 overall) shot 59 percent in the first half (19-of-32) on their way to a 45-25 lead at the break. That advantage was as large as 25 early in the second.
The Raiders (9-3) were flat from the opening tipoff, turning it over four times in the first few minutes. They ended up with their lowest shooting percentage (38) from the field in over a year and were just as ugly at the line, where they made 16 of 30 attempts. They also went 2-for-17 from downtown, matching their lowest 3-point-make total in the last five years.
SOU made a late push to get back in the game, going on an 18-6 run that trimmed the Keelhauler lead to 61-52 with 5:45 remaining before missing their next six shots.
Ben DeSaulnier registered 15 points, five assists and five steals but fought a 5-for-17 day for the Raiders. Kenny Meyer had 12 points and four rebounds, and Jordan West totaled 11 points and four boards.
For the Keelhaulers, Daniel Redford added 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting and Clayton White had 11.
SOU had won its previous six meetings with Cal Maritime, the last two of which had been top-25 matchups. All three Raider losses this season have been to ranked opponents.
The Raiders return next weekend to Cascade Conference play, where their record is 2-0. They'll be at Evergreen at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and at Northwest at 3 p.m. Sunday.