SAN MARCOS — After a 3-point buzzer beater by the Bakersfield Renegades sent the game to overtime, the Comets held fast, outscoring their opponents 9-6 to continue their playoff journey.
The Comets are no strangers to the postseason, they’ve qualified for five of the past 10, going 0-4 across that span with the second round always alluding them.
But this season, they broke that streak.
Isaiah Pomare (#5) set the tempo, soloing 10 points to put the Comets up 10-2. The hot start put a target on Pomare’s back as the Renegades proceeded to double team him, opening up the court for other Comets to score.
“Once I started getting going, the defense has to focus in on one guy,” Pomare said. “Now [Benjie] Nudo, Angel, my guy [Jaidyn] Norman get more space to get downhill and to the rim. Everyone gets to eat.”
Palomar guard, Benjie Nudo (#0) led first-half scoring with 17 points as he utilized Bakersfield’s lopsided coverage on Pomare.
“I’ve faced a lot of pressure in my time,” Nudo said. “Playing against bigger guys, stronger guys, and tonight I got a couple bumps and missed a couple shots to start the game, but I got comfortable after that.”
But the Renegades kept pace, shooting 6-for-14 from 3-point range, and despite falling behind by as much as 11, they battled back and trailed 41-35 at the half.
Palomar led to start the second half, but inaccuracy in the zone and not securing defensive rebounds led to its first deficit of the night, down 56-55 with 13 minutes to play.
Six lead changes proceeded before a huge blow was dealt to the Comets’ offense.
At 2:30 Nudo hit a 3-pointer to put the Comets up 74-70, but fell hard on the court and couldn’t continue playing.
He exited with 35 points, eight rebounds and six steals — forced to watch the match play out from the bench.
Without their top scorer, the Comet sophomores proved their worth, highlighted by a 4-point play from Jaidyn Norman (#55) that put them up 80-70 with 1:05 remaining.
“They were on their heels when I went down, but I was really proud of the team to keep going after that,” Nudo said. “Then Norman hit that 4-point play and the place just erupts.”
Backed into a corner, the Renegades got erratic, but accurate — scoring two 3-pointers, a layup and two free throws and fouling the Comets on every in-ball to give themselves the best chance for a comeback.
Palomar did not capitalize on the free-throw opportunities, going 1-for-4 in the final minute.
With the Comets ahead 83-80 and eight seconds remaining, the unthinkable happened.
Palomar played it safe and crowded the edge, but Renegades’ Zykiar Henderson got free and landed a 3-point jumper, tying the game as the buzzer rang.
Hearts sank in the Dome, but Palomar’s starting five did not dwell on the moment as they gathered at half court for the overtime tipoff.
Five minutes would decide which team’s season continued or concluded, and Bakersfield took its buzzer-beating momentum and jumped out to a four-point lead.
The Comets were overaggressive on offense, negatively affecting their accuracy as they shot 1-for-6 from the field, but it also forced the Renegades to commit fouls at a heavy cost.
After shooting 3-for-7 from the free-throw line in regular time, Norman went 6-for-6 in overtime to lead the scoring.
Bakersfield had a deja vu opportunity to send the game to double overtime but failed to sink the shot, leading to a 92-89 victory for Palomar.
In 2025, Head Coach Ivan Patterson led the Comets to the postseason only to fall short in Round 1, but for the first time since 2013, men’s basketball will advance to Round 2 under his leadership. That game is set for 5 p.m. on Feb. 28 against Fullerton College.
“I’m not a man of many words, but this was priceless and I’m humble and grateful,” Coach Patterson said. “Before the game, during the game, in overtime, it was the will to win that we kept preaching and these guys’ unselfishness is what saw them through.”