Merced College men’s basketball team falls to Delta

The Merced College men’s basketball team is still searching for an identity.

The Blue Devils have taken their lumps, winning just once in a tough seven-game stretch to open the season. While Bill Russell’s squad hasn’t quite pinpointed the kind of team it is, Merced has shown it doesn’t quit.

That never-yield mentality was on display again Tuesday night as the Blue Devils turned a 30-point second-half deficit into a respectable 84-74 loss to San Joaquin Delta at Don Reid Court.

“This was just our second time playing at home, and I don’t feel like we came out with the kind of intensity we need,” Russell said. “Delta was definitely the more intense team out of the gate, and it showed as they built up the lead.

“On a positive note, the guys never dropped their heads. I took a timeout when we were down by 30 and reminded them that we weren’t done playing and that we were a better team than the score showed. We outscored them by 20 in the last 10 minutes of the game.”

After defensive attempts at man-to-man and zone allowed the Mustangs (4-1) to build a 68-38 lead with just under 10 minutes to play in the game, Russell turned to a full-court press.

The change seemed to wake up the Blue Devils (1-6), as they forced eight of Delta’s 14 second-half turnovers in the last 10 minutes. Geremi Dixon (nine points, five steals) and Rob Martinez (nine points, three steals) led the defensive charge, and Deonta Woodard (game-high 20 points) finished most of the transition baskets, scoring 17 points in the final 10 minutes.

“It was a really positive response, but we need to play like that from the beginning,” Russell said. “Either the starters are going to have to step up and do it, or we’re going to have to make some personnel changes to get it done.”

Merced outscored Delta 36-16 down the stretch but never got closer than 10.

Delta used its trio of talented guards and a dribble-drive attack to build a 40-26 lead in the first half. Dwayne Lee (19 points), Jordan Belasco (20) and Treyvon Merriweather (eight) got to the basket at will in the opening 20 minutes. The Mustangs knocked down 14 of 19 free throws in the opening half.

Russell switched to a zone in an effort to eliminate the penetration and keep his players out of foul trouble, but the Mustangs answered by knocking down shots.

Delta was 14 of 27 shooting after the break and made 13 of 14 second-half free throws to ensure that Merced’s comeback bid never got too threatening.

Kendrick Sallis had 13 points in the loss and Gurvinder Uppal scored 11.

This story was originally published November 26, 2014 at 1:32 PM with the headline "Merced College men’s basketball team falls to Delta."