SEASIDE --- Cal State Monterey Bay won its sixth game in a row Saturday night, defeating visiting Chico St. 79-67 with a strong effort from its bench players.
Reserves #Juston Willis# and #Steve Monreal# scored 15 points each and #Stephen Becker# scored eight. Starter #Jose Sanchez# led the Otters in scoring with 17. Chico's Jesse Soto led all scorers with 18.
CSUMB controlled the game throughout, leading 33-28 at the half. The Wildcats would get within five points twice, but generally trailed by seven to 10 points. CSUMB held a 28-27 rebounding advantage as #Joe Mitchell# had a game high 11 boards before leaving the game late in the second half with a dislocated kneecap.
WIth the victory, CSUMB is now 7-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (8-12 overall) and in seventh place. The top eight teams go to the postseason, so CSUMB appears to be headed there. CSUMB head coach Pat Kosta said the team is playing with a lot of confidence now and it is making all the difference.
"It's a remarkable thing that a team that was 1-9 has won six in a row," said Kosta. "We have a bunch of kids who are sticking together and persevering."
Kosta pointed to #Jacob Kernodle# as a fine example. Though the 6' 7" forward/center has struggled at times this year, Kernodle came up big Saturday night defending Chico's big men, especially during Mitchell's absence.
"Jake had a really fabulous effort on defense and did everything that we wanted him to do," said Kosta.
The winning streak started in San Francisco --- the first game that Monreal joined the team. Kosta said it is no coincidence. "He provides an element on offense that is uncoachable because of his creativity, and he's an outstanding passer."
CSUMB will travel north next week to face Humboldt State in Arcata on Friday and then Sonoma State on Saturday. HSU is in third place with a 9-5 record in the CCAA, while Sonoma is currently ninth with a 5-9 record.
Official Basketball Box Score
Official Basketball Box Score
Chico State vs CSU Monterey Bay
02/09/08 7:30pm at Seaside, CA [Otter Sports Center]
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VISITORS: Chico State 5-16, 1-13 CCAA
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
12 ARGENAL, Justin..... * 1-3 1-1 0-0 0 3 3 4 3 3 0 0 1 33
22 SMITH, Ryan......... * 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 5 2 0 3 0 0 20
24 PHILLIPS, Darroll... * 5-9 3-5 0-0 0 3 3 2 13 0 3 0 0 28
30 FERRIN, Andrew...... * 1-3 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 4 2 1 1 0 0 13
42 BRADLEY, Shane...... * 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 0 8
10 DAVIS, Drew......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+
14 SOTO, Jesse......... 7-13 3-6 1-1 1 3 4 1 18 3 2 1 1 25
20 ASH, Robert......... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 6
32 JACKSON, Josh....... 3-4 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 15
34 HAWKINS, Rod........ 1-4 0-0 1-2 4 4 8 2 3 3 2 0 1 26
54 IGBEKOYI, Frank..... 7-12 0-0 2-3 1 5 6 4 16 1 1 1 0 29
TEAM................
Totals.............. 28-53 7-15 4-6 6 21 27 24 67 12 14 2 3 203
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-23 52.2% 2nd Half: 16-30 53.3% Game: 52.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-5 40.0% 2nd Half: 5-10 50.0% Game: 46.7% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-3 66.7% 2nd Half: 2-3 66.7% Game: 66.7% 1
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HOME TEAM: CSU Monterey Bay 8-12, 7-7 CCAAA
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
10 CANNON, D'Shon...... * 0-7 0-3 6-6 2 1 3 1 6 1 3 0 0 29
23 KERNODLE, Jacob..... * 1-2 0-0 1-2 0 1 1 3 3 0 0 0 1 18
31 SANCHEZ, Jose....... * 5-11 2-5 5-6 1 1 2 2 17 1 1 0 0 27
32 JOHNSTON, Augie..... * 2-5 2-2 4-4 1 1 2 2 10 0 0 0 0 35
33 MITCHELL, Joe....... * 2-6 0-0 1-2 3 8 11 0 5 2 4 0 0 27
05 WILLIS, Juston...... 5-7 0-0 5-6 2 3 5 2 15 3 2 0 0 26
11 BECKER, Stephen..... 3-4 2-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 8 0 1 0 0 17
21 MONREAL, Steve...... 5-10 3-4 2-2 0 4 4 0 15 2 2 0 2 22
TEAM................
Totals.............. 23-52 9-17 24-28 9 19 28 10 79 9 13 0 3 201
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 11-29 37.9% 2nd Half: 12-23 52.2% Game: 44.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 5-11 45.5% 2nd Half: 4-6 66.7% Game: 52.9% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 6-8 75.0% 2nd Half: 18-20 90.0% Game: 85.7% 3,1
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Officials: Edward Page, Horace Shields, Mike DeDiego
Technical fouls: Chico State-PHILLIPS, Darroll. CSU Monterey Bay-MONREAL,
Steve.
Attendance: 475
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Chico State................... 28 39 - 67
CSU Monterey Bay.............. 33 46 - 79
