March 7, 2009
Box Score
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – After defeating No. 2 seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills and No. 1 seeded Cal Poly Pomona, the No. 7 seeded Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team saw their season come to an end, falling to No. 3 seed Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday at the Coussoulis Arena.
With a season-high 24 points, senior #Joe Mitchell# became the first men's basketball player to break the 1,000 career-point milestone. Senior #Jose Sanchez# recorded all of his 12 points in the first half and senior #Dante Green# added 11. Senior #Steve Monreal# added seven points and five assists. Mitchell also recorded his 23 career double-double, pulling down a game-high 10 boards.
The Coyotes went on a 15-3 run to take a 42-27 lead stopped by Mitchell's 3-pointer at 5:17 and took a 48-35 lead into the locker room.
Green opens the second half with a jumper from the baseline and sparked a 13-2 run.
For the next four minutes, the Otters never allowed the Coyotes to take a larger lead than five.
Mitchell's steal that was capped by a dunk at 11:36 gave the Otters their first lead of the game, 60-59.
A jumper by Green gave the Otters a five point lead (65-60), the largest of the night.
CSUSB reclaimed the lead at 3:57 on a layup by DuBois Williams, but CSUMB fought back to tie it at 73-73 on sophomore #Warren Freeman#'s jumper with 3:38 remaining.
A basket by Williams and Brandon Brown put the Coyotes up by four, 79-75.
Mitchell hit his 1,000 point on an old-fashioned 3-point play to close the gap to 79=78 with :22 left on the clock. CSUSB's Tim Denson hit the back-end of a free throw to clinch the CCAA title.
"An unbelievable season in which we just came up two points short," said Otters first-year head
Rob Bishop. "I am so proud of this team for what they were able to accomplish and how they grew as a group.
"This finish give us something to build on for years to come."
The Coyotes were crowned CCAA Champions and Brown was named Tournament MVP.
"Hats off to Cal State San Bernardino who came out really loose and ready to play."
"My guys battled and we had chances to win on the road," Bishop said. "It is all you can ask for."
