GAME #26
CSUMB (14-11) vs. Cal State San Bernardino (15-9)
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
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GAME #27
CSUMB (14-11)  vs. Cal Poly Pomona (10-11)
Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
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Game Notes


OPENING TIP:
The Otters return home to host Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona in their final two games of the regular season. Currently tied for 6th place with San Francisco State in the CCAA standings, the Otters need to be in the top eight to compete in the first round of the CCAA Tournament.

SCOUTING THE COYOTES:
Cal State San Bernardino (15-9, 13-5 CCAA) is tied with Cal Poly Pomona for second place in the CCAA standings.  The Coyotes lead the CCAA in blocked shots (3.8 per game) and steals (8.5 per game). Players to watch: Brandon Brown (19.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 31 blocks), Devin Montgomery (14.5 ppg, 54 assists)

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS:
Cal Poly Pomona (17-6, 13-5 CCAA) is on an eight-game winning streak and pulled off a 73-71 overtime victory over Cal State San Bernardino on Feb. 11 in Pomona. The Broncos lead the league in defense, holding opponents to an average of 58.2 points and 27.3 rebounds.

OTTERS BREAK INTO NATIONAL STATISTICS:
CSUMB finds itself ranked 71st in the nation in free throw percentage (71.6) and 127th in scoring offense (73.1). Individually, senior #Steve Monreal# is in the national top 100 in two categories: free throw percentage with 108-for-123 in 25 games (87.8,  23rd) and assists per game (4.4, 72nd).  Senior #Joe Mitchell# is ranked 31st after averaging 9.1 rebounds per game.

AGAINST SAN FRANCISCO STATE:
The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team saw their post season first-round home game slip through their fingers as the Otters fell, 62-53, to the Gators of San Francisco State University at Main Gymnasium on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Senior #Dante Green# led the Otters with 16 points and four steals. Senior #Steve Monreal# added 11 points and senior #Joe Mitchell# pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

AGAINST UC SAN DIEGO:
The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team dropped a 72-65 decision to UC San Diego on Saturday at RMAC Arena. Senior #Jose Sanchez# led the Otters with 14 points and senior #Steve Monreal# followed with 13 points.  Senior #Joe Mitchell# recorded his eighth double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.  Senior #Dante Green# added 10 points and nine rebounds.
 
COMMENTS BY COACH BISHOP:
Upcoming games: “This is the biggest series of our season. Not only do we want to be playing well at the end of the season, but we need one more win to clinch a spot. There is also a good chance that we will have to travel to one of the two teams we play this weekend for the playoff game so it is doubly important we play well.”

MITCHELL NAMED WILSON/CCAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
#Joe Mitchell#, a 6-foot-4 senior from Oakland, Calif. averaged 15.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and connected on 52.9 percent of his field goal attempts as the Otters split a pair of road games at Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills. During an 80-70 loss at Cal State L.A., Mitchell scored 17 points and totaled a career-high 19 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. He followed that effort with 13 rebounds and five rebounds during a 76-72 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills that helped keep the Otters within a game of first place in the CCAA. A four-year player for the Otters, this is Mitchell's first time being named Wilson CCAA Player of the Week.  

MAKING IT REAL:
Senior #Steve Monreal# has emerged as CSUMB's top scoring threat, averaging 15.4 points per game.  He is shooting 37.0 percent overall but has been even more impressive at the free throw line, making 108-for-123 (87.8 percent) from the charity stripe.  Monreal began the season with a 14-for-14 showing at the free throw line against Alaska-Fairbanks on Nov. 14, 2008.

RECORD WATCH:
Senior #Joe Mitchell# has 934 career points and is three points away from becoming the CSUMB men's basketball all-time leading scorer. D'Shon Cannon, who played three season for the Otters, currently holds the record with 937 points. Mitchell holds CSUMB career records in the following categories: field goals made (355), rebounds (734), steals (86) and games played (102).

HOME SWEET HOME:
The Otters opened the 2008-09 season undefeated at home with eight victories, the best start in school team history. 

CCAA LEADERS:
(Overall statistics as of 02/23/2009)

#Steve Monreal# - 3rd in points (15.4 per game); 2nd free throw percentage (87.8 percent), 2nd in assists (4.4 per game); 4th in steals (1.7 per game), 4th in 3-point field goals made (49).

#Joe Mitchell# - 2nd in total rebounds (227), 2nd in rebounding (9.1 per game); 1st in offensive rebounds (2.8 per game), 2nd in defensive boards (6.3 per game), 2nd in field goal percentage (56.5 percent), 12th in blocked shots (13), 18th in points (10.6 per game).

#Dante Green# - 6th in field goal percentage (53.8 percent), 12th in rebounding (5.3 per game); 12th in offensive boards (1.8 per game); 12th in defensive boards (3.4 per game), 26th in points (9.2 per game).

#Jose Sanchez# - 22nd in points (9.5 per game).

#Warren Freeman# - 13th in blocked shots (12).