With a big lead, Cal State Stanislaus head coach Larry Reynolds was able to use his bench depth in Wednesday night's men's basketball home opener at Fitzpatrick Arena. The result was a huge 105-57 win over UC Merced.
The non-starters scored 74 of the team's 105 points in the blow-out win over the Bobcats as Cal State Stanislaus even its record at 1-1. Zeke DeBlase led all players with 21 points - 10 from the foul line with three 3 pointers - and Taylor Bell knocked in five treys to finish with 19 points.
All four of the Warriors' double-digit scorers came off the bench with Alek Carlson (11 points with three three-pointers) and Tayler Thompson (10 points, 9 rebounds) also contributing to the team's overall effort.
UC Merced actually took a six-point lead at 12-6 on a Aki Chambers triple at 15:23, but that was all the last time the Bobcats had any momentum. The Warriors scored 31 of the next 36 points, including a 25-0 run over a six-minute span, to built a 34-17 lead before the 45-27 halftime score.
Cal State Stanislaus drained seven three-pointers in the first half - four from Bell - and nailed six more in the second half to pull away. The Warriors also out-shot UCM, 69.0 to 31.7 percent in the second half for the big margin of victory. Additionally, Stanislaus out-rebounded the Bobcats, 50-29, on the night.
With the big second half lead, Reynolds was able to empty his bench and provided some quality playing time for some of the younger Warriors. Of the three leading scorers three (DeBlase, Thompson and Carlson) are freshmen.
In just 16 minutes of play, Ray Mitchell scored eight points and pulled eight rebounds.
Cal State Stanislaus will not play again until Nov. 30 when it opens CCAA play against Humboldt State, at home, at Fitzpatrick Arena at 7 p.m.