SEASIDE, Calif. — After opening the season a sizzling 40.4 percent from 3–point range, the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team went cold from long range Friday night in dropping an 81–73 decision to Cal State L.A. in The Kelp Bed.

CSUMB (2–2, 0–1 CCAA) converted just 4–of–17 (23.5 percent) from range, suffering its coldest performance of the season just as Cal State L.A. senior Quinton Watkins was heating up. Watkins entered Friday's contest averaging 21 points per game and shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc. He improved on even those lofty numbers, torching the Otters for 30 points, including a 6–of–9 night from 3–point land.

Watkins went 5–for–5 from beyond the arc as part of a 25–point second half. He single–handedly carried the Golden Eagles back from a 51–42 deficit midway through the final stanza, making three 3–pointers and two layups in a 1–man 13–0 run that put L.A back on top, 55–51.

After a Kris Gallop (Vallejo/Los Medanos College) layup made it 55–53, Watkins sank a pair of free throws on the ensuing Golden Eagle possession and the Otters never got closer than three the rest of the way.

Junior swingman Ryan Nitz (Rancho Cucamonga/Chaffey College) led three Otters in double figures with 18 points. Senior guard Brandon Cole (Vallejo/Napa Valley College) chipped in a game–high five assists.

CSUMB returns to action Saturday night by hosting Cal State Dominguez Hills at 7:30 p.m.

GO OTTERS!