November 18, 2010

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team pulled off a 50-47 victory over NCAA Division I Cal Poly in its season opener on Thursday night at Mott Gym.

"Thi s was a great win," said head coach Rob Bishop. "I am so proud of how hard we competed. It was an ugly game but we battled for the win."

Senior #Ian Hosford# recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Otters.  Sophomore #Davion Berry# added 12 points and five assists. Junior #Andrew Castro# recorded a career-high five blocked shots

Hosford scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half as the Mustangs took a 30-22 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Anderson opened the second half with a 15-footer jumper and Berry answered it with a 3-pointer to cut lead to 32-27.

The Otters kept on the heels of Cal Poly until 4:15 on the clock when Berry connected on a jumper to give CSUMB its first lead of the game at 48-47.

Two free-throws by Berry clinched the CSUMB victory.

"We never felt we were out of it at any point of the game," Bishop said. "I told our guys that they (Cal Poly) would get tight if we kept it close. The fact that we held them scoreless fo rthe last 6:30 of the game was incredible."

CSUMB forced four offensive charges in tonight's game. Castro recorded three of his five blocks in just over a minute's time.

CSUMB's defense held the Mustangs to just three points in the final 10 minutes of the game, giving Cal Poly it's first loss against a lower-division opponent since transitioning to the Division I level prior to the 1994-95 campaign.

"We need to carry this momentum into Sunday's game with San Francisco State," Bishop said.

The Otters open California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play aganst rival San Francisco State on Sunday, Nov. 21st at 4 p.m. in the Kelp Bed.