November 14, 2008

BOX SCORE

MALIBU, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball closed out their exhibition season on Friday night against NCAA Division I Pepperdine University, falling 91-82 at the Firestone Fieldhouse.

Senior #Steve Monreal# scored a game-high 28 points and made seven of 13 three-pointers. Senior #Joe Mitchell# had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

The Waves were led by Mychel Thompson and Ryan Holmes added 22 points.

“We started off slow tonight and had too many mental mistakes early in the game that hurt us,” said head coach Rob Bishop. “I am proud of the way our team battled back in the second half to take the lead.”

Monreal scored the first eight points in a 12-0 Cal State Monterey Bay run, which cut the lead to 50-45 with 14 minutes left. The Otters then went on a tear with six three-pointers, including four by Monreal, in the next 3 ½ minutes. They took the lead for the first time at 62-61 with 7:48 to play after a senior #Dante Green# triple and Monreal's seventh three-pointer put the Otters up 65-63 with 7:13 left.

CSUMB and Pepperdine both pulled down 35 rebounds each. The Waves had a 49.1% to 44.4% edge in shooting percentage. Both teams were successful from beyond the lengthened three-point arc, as the Otters made 11 overall and the Waves hit 52.9% of theirs (9-for-17).

 “We need to learn from this how to finish a game,” Bishop said. “I truly felt like we could have won if we didn't make so many mistakes.”

The Otters open their 2008-09 regular season on Tuesday, hosting Alaska Fairbanks at the Otter Sports Center. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.