Skip To Main Content

CSU Monterey Bay Athletics

Skip to Navigation

Scoreboard desktop

Schedule

All Events
2013 MBB Notebook Graphic-Derrick Anderson
Jessica Benedetti

Men Looking To Continue Rise In The CCAA Standings

| By: By Kevin Gilmore
Senior forward Derrick Anderson and the Otters will look to solidify their hold on a CCAA Tournament berth when they open a four-game homestand Friday against San Francisco State.

Otters begin four-game homestand with chance to solidify top eight spot







SEASIDE, Calif. -- Back in the thick of the CCAA Tournament race following Saturday's win at Stanislaus, the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team returns to The Kelp Bed homecoming weekend action fellow contenders San Francisco State (Friday) and Sonoma State (Saturday). The Otters are looking to close the gap on the Gators with a win Friday. CSUMB and Sonoma enter the weekend tied in the CCAA standings.

Saturday's men's/women's doubleheader with Sonoma are the official Homecoming games, but the fun runs all week long. CLICK HERE for the full calendar of CSUMB Homecoming 2013 festivities.

The weekend kicks off a four-game homestand that also includes match-ups with Cal State L.A. (Feb. 8) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (Feb. 9).

Tipofff Friday will be at 7:30 p.m. as the nightcap of men's/women's doubleheader action. Otters fans can listen and watch online at www.OtterAthletics.com. Rob Ponce and former Otter Ian Hosford will call all of the action live from courtside.


SCOUTING THE GATORS (9–7, 7–5 CCAA): After a season–best hot streak in which they won 6 of 7 games, the Gators visit The Kelp Bed Friday having lost 3 of 4. Delta College transfer Calvin Otiono leads a balance Gator scoring chart at 13.4 points per game including a sizzling 51.2 shooting percentage (21–of–41) from beyond the arc. Senior forward Decensae White, a transfer from Santa Clara University, adds 11.8 points and a team–leading 7.2 rebounds per game.

WHEN LAST WE MET: Despite leading by seven at the half (31–24), the Otters couldn't hold off a late SFSU rally as the Gators game from behind late to win 60–55 in The Swamp on Dec. 1, 2012. Junior guard James Thomas (Castro Valley/Bishop O'Dowd) came off the bench to lead CSUMB with 14 points while junior forward Kris Gallop (Vallejo/Mendocino College) grabbed a season–high 11 rebounds for the Otters. James Albright led three Gators in double figures with 14 points.

WHEN LAST WE PLAYED: The Otters capped the coronation of their new all–time scoring leader (see below) by playing through 11 ties and 19 lead changes to hold off Cal State Stanislaus for a 78–74 win in Fitzpatrick Arena Saturday night. Freshman guard Alex Fertig (Fresno/Buchanan HS) led the way with 20 points while senior forward Kevin Loustale (Chico/Shasta College) added an 11–point, 15–rebound double–double.

WARD PUTS THE (DAL) HAMER DOWN, BECOMES OTTER SCORING KING: While some Otter fans may have hoped he's wait one more game to do it at home, senior guard Brandon Ward (Riverside/Woodcrest HS) apparently couldn't wait. His two late free throws Saturday night not only sealed the win at Cal State Stanislaus, they moved him past Matt Dalhamer into first place on the CSUMB career scoring list. Ward will have 10 regular season games (plus any potential postseason appearances) to put distance between himself and any future challengers. Congratulations Brandon!

LIQUID NITROGEN COLD: How cold were the Otter shooters Jan. 17 vs. UCSD? Try as cold as liquid nitrogen (that's 322 degrees below zero for the non–physicists out there). CSUMB went 0–for–14 from beyond the three–point arc, the second worst performance in school history. It was the first time since the second game of the Rob Bishop era that the Otters failed to make a three–pointer. Stretching over three games, the Otters missed a school–record 22–consecutive three–pointers between Jan. 12–19 before an Alex Fertig trey broke the spell with 16:07 remaining against San Bernardino. CSUMB finished the game by making five of its last nine from long range.

…BUT WARMING UP: The Otters have begun to awaken from their recent shooting slumber. Including an 8–of–17 (47.1 pct.) performance in Saturday night's win at Stanislaus, CSUMB has made 18 of its last 37 attempts from beyond the arc (48.6 pct.).

SUPERNOVA HOT: How hot has Kevin Loustale been lately? Try has hot as a supernova (around 3.7 billion degrees Kelvin or 4.8 billion Fahrenheit for the non–physicists out there). Loustale entered 22–of–37 (59.5 percent) from the field over his last six games, bringing his season total to 58.7 percent (good for No. 4 in the CCAA).

POPPING THE DOUBLE–DOUBLE BUBBLE: Senior forward Kevin Loustale became the first Otter men's player to record a double–double this season when he went for 10 points and 10 rebounds Jan. 19 versus San Bernardino. It was the first double–double for an Otter since Loustale (14 & 11) and Derrick Anderson (Pittsburg HS) (12 & 10) each turned the trick against UCSD on Feb. 17, 2012. For good measure, Loustale added his second double–double (11 & 15) Saturday at Stanislaus.

ON THE BLOCKS: Junior forward Kris Gallop (Vallejo/Los Medanos College) posted a team season–high four blocks Jan. 5 at Cal State L.A. That mark is tied for the No. 4 spot in the CSUMB record book and were the most blocks since Andrew Castro blocked five shots in a win at Cal Poly SLO on Nov. 18, 2010. He added his 17th and 18th blocks Saturday at Stanislaus and is now tied with Sean Jergo (2010) for No. 7 on the CSUMB single–season list.

FERTIG AMONG CCAA SCORING LEADERS: With his sixth 20–plus point game of the season in Saturday's win at Stanislaus, freshman guard Alex Fertig moved up to No. 4 among the CCAA scoring leaders at 15.2 points per game He is the only freshman ranked in the top 10 and one of only two freshman ranked in the top 20 (Cal State L.A. freshman guard Joshua Munzon in No. 20 at 11.1 ppg).

ON THE REBOUND: After taking a 41–33 edge on the glass in Saturday's win at Stanislaus, the Otters have out–rebounded their opponents in 12 of 19 games this season. Built on that effort, CSUMB is now No. 2 in the CCAA in total rebounding, average 38.5 rpg. Cal State L.A. leads at 41.8 rpg.

SO CLOSE… The Otters just missed scoring their most points in a regulation conference game during the Rob Bishop era by hanging 98 points on Cal State East Bay Dec. 30. The high water mark is 99 points in a 99–88 win at Cal State Stanislaus on Jan. 30, 2009. The 98 points were the third most scored in a regulation CCAA game in Otter history, trailing only the aforementioned game at Stanislaus and 107 points (also at Stanislaus) on Jan. 19, 2007.

DOUBLE TROUBLE: By scoring 180 points versus Academy of Art (82) and Cal State East Bay (98), the Otters set a school record for points in consecutive regulation wins over NCAA Division II competition. The 2006–07 Otters scored 188 points in consecutive games versus Chico State (99) and Cal State Stanislaus (89), but fell in the Stanislaus game, 96–89.

THE WARD GIVETH… Brandon Ward's three assists Saturday at Stanislaus give him 229 career assists, good for No. 2 in the CSUMB record book. D'Shon Cannon owns the top spot with 371 assists from 2006–08.

…AND THE WARD TAKETH AWAY: Brandon Ward continues his quest for the CSUMB career steals record, entering the San Francisco State game owning the No. 4 spot with 81. Joe Mitchell holds the record with 91 steals.

WORKING OVERTIME: One area where the Otters have excelled in the Rob Bishop Era is in overtime. CSUMB was 2–0 in overtime during the 2011–12 season (including a 72–66 win over San Bernardino) and 6–1 overall when playing bonus basketball under Bishop.

LARGE MARGINS, HOME EDITION: The season–opening 104–52 win over Pacifica University set a CSUMB record for largest margin of victory (52 points) in an Otter home win. Last night, CSUMB's 78–58 win over Colorado Christian was the largest margin of victory in a road game during the Road Bishop era at CSUMB. The previous record was 19 points in an 83–64 win at Cal State East Bay on Feb. 3, 2011.

LARGE MARGINS, ROAD EDITION: Nov. 16th's 78–58 win over Colorado Christian was the largest margin of victory (20 points) in a road game in the Rob Bishop era of Otter basketball.

NOW THAT'S SMARTS: After leading the conference with three members of the CCAA All–Academic team in 2011, the Otter men's basketball team built on that success by placing four players on that team in 2012: James Albert, Geoff McIntosh, Brandon Ward and Troy Watkins. CSUMB's seven CCAA All–Academic team members over the last two seasons are tops among the 12 conference schools. Ward, in fact, is a three–year member of the CCAA All–Academic team.

FERTIG NAMED TO ALL–TOURNAMENT TEAM: Freshman guard Alex Fertig (Fresno/Buchanan HS) picked up the first piece of hardware for the Otters this season, earning All–Tournament recognition at the GCI Alaska Invitational. He averaged 18.7 points per game over the weekend, including CSUMB's first 20–point games of the season with 24 vs. Colorado Christian and 21 vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State.

SIT THIS ONE OUT: Freshman Tim Darkwa  will practice with the team but is expected to redshirt the 2012–13 season.

GET ENTHUSE, EARN REWARDS

Hey Otter fans, want to earn rewards simply following your favorite CSUMB sports teams? Of course you do. Otter Athletics is partnering with Enthuse to allow you to do just that. All you have to do is visit the iTunes Store (iPhones) or play.google.com (Android) and download the FREE Enthuse app.

Once installed, search for “Monterey Bay Otters” to find your favorite CSUMB teams and you'll start earning points immediately. The more you follow the Otters, the more points you'll earn and the more free stuff you'll get. It really is that easy.

So download the Enthuse app and start earning your rewards today.


Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories