FULL MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK at SONOMA STATE IN PDF FORMAT


SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team will go for a sweep of the season seires against in form Sonoma State when it travels to Rohnert Park to take on the Seawolves Thursday (Feb. 2). If you can't make the game, be sure to listen live on KRXA 540 AM and OtterAthletics.com. As always, Rob Ponce will call the action.

SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES: When the Otters beat Sonoma State on Dec. 3, the Seawolves were in the middle of a five–game losing streak. This time, the Otters will face the hottest team in the CCAA as Sonoma rides into Thursday's affair having won eight of its last 10. One of the biggest factors in that turnaround has been the addition of freshman forward Justin Herold, who didn't join the active roster until Dec. 17. Herold averages 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and leads the team with 12 blocks despite missing seven of 18 games. Will Olsem is the Seawolves' leading scorer at 12.9 ppg.

WHEN LAST WE MET: In what was truly a team win, several players stepped up big to lead the Otters to an 80–72 overtime victory against Sonoma State in The Kelp Bed on Dec. 3. Junior guard Brandon Ward led CSUMB with a (then) career–high 23 points. Sophomore guard James Thomas hit the big shot, sinking a three–pointer with 25 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. Steve Pratt led Sonoma with 19 points and nine rebounds.

BACK WHERE WE STARTED: The Otters will be looking to end their 12–game slide Thursday against the last team they defeated—Sonoma State. 

ABOUT LAST WEEK: Cold shooting early killed the Otters twice last weekend. CSUMB hit just four of its first 23 from the field Friday in a 75–57 loss at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Saturday, the Otters went 4–for–16 from the floor in the first half of a 75–56 loss at Cal State L.A. Brandon Ward led CSUMB with 16 points against the Toros. James Thomas came off the bench to score 15 against the Golden Eagles.

Sonoma State, meanwhile, picked up a pair of key road wins last week. The Seawolves knocked Chico State out of first place Friday with a 62–59 win in Acker Gym. Saturday, they completed the weekend sweep with a 73–69 win at Cal State Stanislaus. Jason Walter was the only Sonoma player to reach double figures at Chico, finishing with 10 points. Steven Pratt had a 13–point, 12–assist double–double to key the win at Stanislaus.

BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE SAID: While turnovers have been a thorn in the collective Otter side throughout the season, Saturday at Cal State L.A., the Otters turned the ball over 30 times. That total was the most in the NCAA Division II era of Otter basketball and the second most in school history.

CLOSE BUT ONE CIGAR: With the exception of their Dec. 3 overtime win against Sonoma State, close games have spelled doom for the Otters so far in 2011–12. The Otters have had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead in the final minute six times this season, ultimately falling in five of those games. For the record, the games were: Westminster College (L), Sonoma State (W), Notre Dame de Namur (L), Cal State L.A. (L), Cal State East Bay (L) and UCSD (L).

DOUBLE VISION: Derrick Anderson's 15–point, 14–rebound double–double against Sonoma State was not only his first collegiate double–double, it has been the only double–double by an Otter in the last 37 games. Davion Berry was the last Otter to turn the trick, scoring 24 points with 12 boards in a 78–63 win over Cal State East Bay on Feb. 19, 2010.

WATKINS A WHISKER AWAY: Sophomore guard Troy Watkins nearly posted his first collegiate double–double Saturday at Cal State L.A., finishing with nine points and nine rebounds. The nine rebounds were a career high while the nine points matched his career–high (Nov. 22 vs. Cal–Maritime).

START ME UP: By starting Saturday's game at Cal State L.A., Brandon Ward continued his steady climb up the CSUMB career starts top 10 list. Ward made his 61st Otter start that night, solidifying his hold on sole possession of the No. 4 slot. Should Ward start all 26 regular season games in 2011–12, he would end the season with 70 career starts, No. 3 on the all–time list and just six off the record held by current assistant coach Joe Mitchell.
Also of note, Derrick Anderson made his 55th career start at CSULA, moving past Mike Miller and Dexter Amey for sole possession of No. 5 on the CSUMB career list.

THE MONTEREY BAY 500: Brandon Ward's final bucket Dec. 10 at Notre Dame de Namur put him in exclusive company. It lifted the junior guard over 500 career points (501). Ward became just the 16th Otter to reach that plateau. He enters the Sonoma State game with 665 points, solidifying his hold on 12th place. Should he continue at his current pace, Ward will end the regular season as CSUMB's ninth all–time leading scorer.

THE WARD GIVETH… Brandon Ward recorded two assists Saturday at Cal State L.A., bringing his career total to 166 assists, good for sole possession of the No. 4 spot. DShon Cannon owns the Otter record with 371.

…AND THE WARD TAKETH AWAY: Brandon Ward grabbed another two steals at CSULA Saturday night to move into a tie with Matt Dalhamer and Jay Demaestri for the No. 9 spot on the CSUMB career list with 62 steals. Joe Mitchell holds the Otter record with 91 steals.

OTTERS AMONG THE CCAA LEADERS: Several Otters entered this week's action ranked among the CCAA leaders. Here are the numbers and ranking entering the week for CSUMB players ranked in the top 10:
Points: Brandon Ward 14.3 ppg (4th) 3PT FGs: James Thomas 1.8 pg (9th) Rebounds: Kevin Loustale 6.2 rpg (10th)
3PT Pct: Brandon Ward 41.7 (7th) FT Pct: Brandon Ward 78.9 (7th) Steals: Derrick Anderson 1.5 pg (9th)

NOW THAT'S SMARTS: The Otter men's basketball team boasted three players who earned CCAA All–Academic honors for their classroom work in 2010–11. The Otter triumvirate of James Albert, Brenden Fripp and Brandon Ward made CSUMB the only school to place three men's basketball players on the list. In case you were wondering, Albert posted a 3.65 grade point average as a business administration major. Ward posted a 3.90 GPA as a business administration major.