ATHERTON, Calif. – Its season flashed before its eyes in the first half and in the second half Menlo College did something about it. Behind clutch play from seniors Brandon Cochran and Chris Cobb the Oaks erased a 16-point deficit late in the game and held off Pacific Union 54-51 in a California Pacific Conference barnburner on Saturday night.

As if part of an offense that makes things look too easy rather than one that has struggled with consistency, Cobb and Cochran scored back-to-back baskets in the final minutes that proved to be the difference in the game.

Trailing 48-47 with just over two minutes remaining, Menlo’s Tim Kees rebounded a failed free throw attempt by Brandon Monty and gave the ball up to the point guard Cobb. Cobb pushed the ball up the floor, used a screen to find some space and released a pull-up 3-pointer from the left wing that found nothing but net. Following a Pioneers turnover, Cochran got position inside, wheeled into the lane from the right block using his left elbow to create space and dropped a contested shot into the basket for a 52-48 Oaks advantage with one minute, 16 seconds to play.

Cochran added two free throws with nine seconds left after Pacific Union’s Aren Rennacker cut Menlo’s lead to one, but Rennacker’s desperation 3-point attempt from the right baseline was way off at the buzzer. The Pioneers made just 4-of-20 field goal attempts after halftime against an inspired Oaks defense.

Early on things went as well for Menlo as they did in its lone Cal Pac loss of the season when it fell behind William Jessup in a hurry and never recovered. Pacific Union was ahead 12-2 less than five minutes into the game and eventually led 28-12 behind the strength of Monty, who tallied 14 first-half points as the Pioneers sunk 4-of-9 3-point attempts in the opening 15 minutes of play.

Menlo set the stage for its second-half resurgence just before the break as Tim Kees made a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws, Logan Shoffner netted a 3-pointer, and Nick McCullar scored inside to draw the Oaks within 32-22. Pacific Union still led by 11 points four minutes into the second half before Menlo made its move with a 12-2 spurt.

Kees got things started with a driving score and Ryan Dung made a pair of free throws before his assist allowed Ari Goldman to drain a catch-and-shoot jumper. A pair of Monty free throws shortly quelled the Oaks run before Goldman scored two more baskets around a Julian Harris score. Menlo trailed 41-40 with 12 minutes to play.

The Pioneers briefly stretched the lead back to four points, but Cochran took an interior pass from fellow big man Andrew Young and converted a three-point play inside and Goldman drained a 3-pointer from a Cobb assist to give the Oaks their first lead at 46-44 with six minutes, 23 seconds to play. Cochran split a pair of free throws before Pacific Union made 4-of-6 free throws to take its last lead of the game at 48-47 with just over three minutes remaining.

Cochran was Menlo’s leading scorer with 14 points while Tim Kees came through with 12 points and six rebounds. Goldman scored nine of his 11 points in the decisive second half. Andrew Young did not score, but had six big rebounds and three assists.

Monty led Pacific Union with a game-high 21 points and seven rebounds. Kameron Barnes had eight points and 13 rebounds while Aren Rennacker and Andrew Webster netted nine and seven points, respectively.

Menlo is now 5-8 overall and 3-1 in the Cal Pac. The Oaks take to the road for a conference game at California Maritime on Tuesday, but host Bethany and Simpson later in the week. Pacific Union is 1-9 overall and 0-4 in conference.