CHICO --- Chico State's inside game was too much for the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team Friday night as the Otters fell to Chico State 83-71 despite a great effort by the Otters.

The Otters jumped out to an early 17-7 lead and led 42-41 at halftime but Chico took the lead for good, 49-46, with 16:17 to play. CSUMB made a late run but never could make up the difference.

The Otters were overmatched in size. CSUMB's 6-foot 3-inch #Augie Johnston# was guarding 6-7 Chico forward Mike Martin. Chico's 6-10 Shane Bradley, who scored 11 points on the night, was an especially difficult matchup for the Otters, whose tallest defender is #Jacob Kernodle# at 6-7. With Kernodle in and out of foul trouble, 6-4 Joe Mitchell, who scored 15 points on the night, would cover the big man. Chico scored 54 points from inside the paint.

With just under 7 minutes to play, Kernodle re-entered the game and the added size seemed to swing momentum. A three-pointer by #DShon Cannon#, a drive for two by Johnson, and another layup by Cannon made it 66-63 with 5:58 left in regulation. But Kernodle picked up his fourth foul, had to leave the game and Chico rebuilt its lead back to 10 at 76-66 with 2:10 left, ensuring the eventual 83-71 victory.

#Juston Willis# led the Otters in scoring with 18, hitting 6 of 14 from the field. Both Johnson and Cannon finished with 12 each. Martin scored 15 to lead Chico. The Otters also suffered from poor shooting from the foul line, hitting just 18 of 33.

The win improved Chico's record to 5-5 overall and 1-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Cal State Monterey Bay fell to 1-8 overall and 0-3 in the CCAA. Next, the CSUMB men face Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday in Turlock. The Warrior men were 2-7 overall and 1-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association heading into the game. The men's game tips off at 7:30 p.m.