BELMONT, Calif. — Playing for the third time in eight days took its toll, but the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team willingly paid it to earn a 74–70 win at Notre Dame de Namur Saturday afternoon in Gleason Gym.

CSUMB improved to 3–1 overall, moving within a win of the second 4–1 or better start under Head Coach Rob Bishop (@Coach_RBishop3) and just the third in school history.

"This was our (third) game in eight days and it was tough," said Bishop. "But we battled and beat a good team on the road."

Sophomores Evan Zeller (Mission Viejo HS) and Isaiah Smith (Vancouver, Wash./Columbia River HS) led the way with 16 and 15 points respectively. Smith, whose 15 points represented a career high, matched his previous high game with 12 points in the first half alone.

The Otters played a solid first half and seemed to shake off a pesky NDNU squad with a late run that gave them their biggest lead of the day, 48–38, heading into the lockerroom. Things got a bit dicey after the break, however, with the Argonauts opening the second half on a 12–0 run to retake the lead, 50–48.

Both team dug in their heels down the stretch. NDNU built its biggest lead of the half, 61–57, on a pair of Jalen Young free throws with nine minutes remaining. But the Otters regrouped quickly by scoring seven points over the next 64 seconds to retake the lead at 64–63.

CSUMB clung to its advantage jealously for the next six minutes until a running jumper in the lane by Jalen Young pushed the Argos back in front, 70–69, with 1:18 left. But Alex Fertig (Fresno/Buchanan HS) quickly returned the favor, getting a baby teardrop to fall softly on the ensuing Otter possession.

Mateo Jones (Victorville/Silverado HS) then made the defensive play of the game, knocking the ball out of bounds off Zach Ginter's leg. Zeller knocked down a pair of free throws to give CSUMB a 73–70 lead.

NDNU had three looks at a game–tying 3–pointer but couldn't get one to fall. Patrick Lefiti (Bay Point/Los Medanos College) converted the front end of a 1–and–1 with three seconds remaining to end it.

"We turned the ball over a couple of time to start the second half and let them back into it," said Bishop. "But we did a good job of playing hard and we made free throws."

The Otters will be off through Thanksgiving before returning to action Friday night to host Western Oregon of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in their final pre–CCAA tuneup. Tipoff in The Kelp Bed is scheduled for 6 p.m.