VALLEJO, Calif. - Menlo College stormed back from a 17-point deficit only to drop a 60-59 California Pacific Conference contest at first-place California Maritime on Thursday evening.

The Oaks final basket was a 3-pointer that drew them within a point, though it served little purpose with only 0.4 seconds remaining. California Maritime inbounded the ball and the game ended.

Nick McCullar finished a three-point play with one minute left in regulation to pull Menlo within four points and Julian Harris forced a turnover on the Keelhaulers ensuing possession with a five seconds call. McCullar got off a jumper in the lane that would have pulled the Oaks within two, but it rimmed out and they ran out of time.

Menlo trailed 35-24 at the break, but got into the game early in the second half. In the end the Oaks offense wasn't quite up to snuff. Despite limiting California Maritime to 36.1 percent shooting from the field, Menlo was only marginally better at 36.5 percent. The Oaks sank 17-of-23 free throws.

Tim Kees led Menlo offensively, scoring 18 points with four rebounds and two assists. Kees was 8-of-11 from the free throw line. Ryan Dung contributed 14 points, but no other Oak hit double figures. Reigning Cal Pac Player of the Week Julian Harris was limited to eight points, though all came in the second half.

Haven Piatt led the Keelhaulers with 16 points while Josh Greenwell and Jordan Birchell added 10 apiece.

Menlo is now 3-5 in the Cal Pac and 7-14 overall. Both of the Oaks losses to California Maritime have come by one point and their average margin of defeat in the Cal Pac is 3.4 points. Menlo hosts Bethany (1-6, 2-18) at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Keelhaulers are 7-1 in conference and 16-10 overall.