February 14, 2009

Box Score

SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team topped last year's 13-win program record season tonight with a 66-63 overtime victory over Cal State L.A., the Otters 14th win of the 2008-09 season.

Senior #Joe Mitchell# recorded his seventh double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Senior #Dante Green# led the Otters with 17 points and junior Keith Wilson added 14 points. Senior #Steve Monreal# dished out seven assists.

Both teams had a first half season-low on points, with the Eagles taking a 19-17 advantage into the intermission.

Junior #Sean Jergo# completed an old-fashioned 3-point play to tie the game at 22-22. Green made nine straight points for the Otters and Dwayne Jones hit three consecutive 3-pointers to keep the game close.

The Otters tied it on a Wilson putback and jumper with 4:49 remaining in the second half.  Senior #Stephen Becker# hit a 3-pointer to give the Otters their first lead in 13 minutes.  Wilson connected on a trey for a 55-49 lead, but Jones answered with a 3-pointer for the Eagles.  CSULA's Donte Bell made an old-fashioned 3-point play to tie it at 55-55 to take game into overtime.. 

CSULA's Tyler Polo made two free throws to begin the five-minute overtime period.  Mitchell made a second chance basket to tie it at 57-57 with 3:52 remaining. Mitchell connected on two free throws to give the Otters a 2-point lead.  Christofer Hart scored four straight points to give CSULA a 61-59 lead once again.  Becker's 3-pointer gave the lead back to the Otters, 62-61.  Leland Jones's layup at the one-minute mark gave the advantage to CSULA, 63-62.  After five passes in ten seconds, Wilson drove the baseline for a layup, 64-63 CSUMB.  Wilson pulled down a big rebound after Dwayne Jones's 3-point attempt and then made both free throws to clinch the victory.

“We battled tonight and our efforts paid off,” said Otters head coach Rob Bishop. “CSULA is a very talented team that played hard tonight. We got two huge shots from Becker and Wilson when we needed them, and we were able to out-rebound them. It was ugly, but I am proud of the guys and how we battled for 45 minutes. 

“Now we need to keep it rolling.”

The Otters (14-9, 8-8 CCAA) travel to San Francisco State on Wednesday, Feb. 18, for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.