GAME #10
CSUMB Otters (8-1) vs. Sonoma State (4-5)
Friday, Jan. 2, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
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GAME #11
CSUMB Otters (8-1) vs. Humboldt State (8-4)
Saturday, Jan. 3, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
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Game Notes
OPENING TIP:
CSUMB opens the New Year on the road against Sonoma State on Friday, Jan. 2 and continues to head north to take on Humboldt State on Saturday, Jan 3.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Otters continue their four-game CCAA conference roadtrip taking on Cal State L. A. on Friday, Jan 9 and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday, Jan 10.
SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES:
Sonoma State (4-5) began CCAA play with two loss, an 80-78 heartbreaker to Humboldt State on Dec 2. The Seawolves followed with a 57-52 loss to UC San Diego on Dec. 6 in La Jolla. Players to watch: Ben Washington (10.6 ppg, 32 assists), James Sandoval (10.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg).
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS:
Humboldt State (8-4, 1-1 CCAA) rebounded with a seven-game winning streak after dropping their first two contests of the season, but are just 2-2 in their last four match-ups. The Jacks are coming off a 85-76 loss to Western Oregon University in the DeBeni Clasic finale on Dec. 20. Players to watch: Zac Tiedman (13.3 ppg, 87.3 FT percentage), Kevin Atkins (8.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg).
OTTERS BREAK INTO NATIONAL STATISTICS:
CSUMB finds itself ranked 58th in the nation in free throw percentage (72.3), 62nd in three-point field goal defense (30.1 percent), 72nd in scoring (79.9 per game) and 72nd in rebound margin (+5.6). Individually, senior #Steve Monreal# is in the national top 100 of three categories: free throw percentage with 51-for-57 in eight games(89.5, 29th), assists per game (5.5, 32nd) and points per game (18.3, 79th). Senior #Joe Mitchell# is ranked 61st after averaging 8.8 rebounds per game.
AGAINST NDNU:
Senior #Steve Monreal# finished with 18 points and nine assists to lead the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball past Notre Dame de Namur University 86-70 on Saturday, Dec. 20 at the Otters Sports Center. CSUMB improved to 8-1 in its final game before the holiday break. NDNU fell to 3-6 with the loss. With Monreal's 18 points, the Otters had four players in double-digits for the sixth game this season. Sophomore #Warren Freeman# finished with a season-high 16 points, making 8-for-11 from the field. Junior Keith Wilson and senior #Jose Sanchez# added 12 and 11 points respectively. Senior #Joe Mitchell# grabbed six rebounds and recorded six assists. CSUMB and NDNU finished tied on the boards, each pulling down 30 rebounds.
SFSU INVITATIONAL HONORS:
Senior #Steve Monreal# was selected to the 2008 San Francisco State Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 19.5 points and 7.0 assists. Joining Monreal on the team is Tyler Gottstein Tournament MVP (UCI); Eric Beal (UCI); Robert Hayes (SFSU); Phil Friesen (UCI).
POST GAME COMMENTS BY BISHOP:
“It was very good to get back home tonight and to grab a win. I was very proud how we finished the first part of the season with an 8-1 record. “We shared the ball well tonight, finishing with 23 assists and only 11 turnovers. We had a few mental lapses as a group, but we continue to get better with every game.”
MAKING IT REAL:
Senior #Steve Monreal# has emerged as CSUMB's top scoring threat, averaging 18.2 points per game in his first four starts. He is shooting 42.0 percent overall but has been even more impressive at the free throw line, making 53-for-59 (89.8 percent) from the charity stripe. Monreal followed a 28-point outing against Alaska Fairbanks in the season opener with a 23-point effort against Academy of Art, representing the first time in his career at CSUMB he reached the 20-point plateau in back-to-back games.
RECORD WATCH:
Senior #Joe Mitchell# past the 750 career point milestone on Friday, December 12 after recording 14 points against Academy of Art University in the San Francisco State Invitational.
LOOKING BACK:
Cal State Monterey Bay wrapped up last year on a high, winning 10 of their last 11 regular season conference games, ending the CCAA season with an 11-9 record. The Otters finished the season 12-15, tying the school record for most NCAA Division II victories in a season. Last season, CSUMB shooters from behind the arc were ranked 13th in the nation in three-point field-goal percentage (40.4).
HOME SWEET HOME:
The Otters opened the 2008-09 season undefeated at home with seven victories, the best start in school team history.
BALANCED OFFENSE:
The Otters have five players averaging double digits in scoring in their first eight games of the season. Senior #Steve Monreal# is leading the pack with 18.2 points per game, and junior #Dante Green# is coming off the bench to add 11.7 per game. Junior #Keith Wilson# is contributing 10.6, while senior #Jose Sanchez# and #Joe Mitchell# are both registering 10.1 per game.
CCAA LEADERS:
#Steve Monreal# - 2nd in points (18.2 per game); 1st free throw percentage (89.8 percent), 1st in assists (5.9 per game); 6th in steals (1.9 per game), 9th in 3-point field goals made (1.9 per game).
#Joe Mitchell# - 1st in total rebounds (76), 2nd in rebounding (8.4 per game); 1st in offensive rebounds (2.9 per game), 4th in defensive boards (5.6 per game), 14th in assists (2.8 per game).
#Dante Green# - 16th (tied) in points (11.7 per game), 7th in rebounding (6.6 per game); 10th in offensive boards (2.1 per game); 8th in defensive boards (4.4 per game).
#Keith Wilson# - 7th in field goal percentage (54.2 percent), 20th (tied) in points (10.6 per game).
