SEASIDE, Calif. — As if playing a tough Western Oregon team weren't enough of a challenge, the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team faced its Black Friday match–up with the Wolves minus its starting point guard and without its starting 2–guard for most of the affair. Nevertheless, the Otters battled back from a 16–point second half deficit to take the lead only to run out of steam late in an 84–73 loss in The Kelp Bed.

Point guard Patrick Lefiti (Bay Point/Los Medanos College) missed the game nursing a minor injury. Late in the first half, Alex Fertig (Fresno/Buchanan HS) turned an ankle, forcing him to miss the remainder of the contest. Though neither injury is believed to be serious, the knocks forced the Otters into some unusual lineup combinations and an uncharacteristic 16 turnovers.

Western (4–2 overall) took advantage, building a lead as big a 17 points in the first half. The Wolves led by 16 early in the second half, 46–30, before the Otters made a bold run.

Led by Evan Zeller (Mission Viejo HS), who scored 21 of his career–high 25 points in the second half, CSUMB chipped away over the next 11 minutes until a Greg Anderson (Murietta/Palomar College) 3–pointer gave the Otters a 62–60 lead inside of eight minutes to play.

Free–throw shooting, which has been an Achilles' Heel so far this season, eventually took the steam out of the rally. CSUMB finished the night 14–of –24 from the line, including a 7–of–7 night from Zeller. Western, meanwhile, made 20 of its first 22 free–throw attempts and finished the game a solid 27–of–31 from the stripe.

As if to drive the contrast home, Anderson made just 1–of–2 from the line before Mateo Jones missed the front end of a 1–and–1 opportunity on CSUMB's next two possessions as the chance to increase its lead to four disappeared.

With the door left ajar, Western took full advantage, using a quick 9–0 spurt to retake the lead, 71–63. The Otters would get no closer than six points the rest of the way.

In addition to Zeller, who also matched his career high with five assists, CSUMB got 14 points from Anderson, a season–high 13 points from Marquise Washington (L.A./Cerritos College) and a career–high five assists from Jones.

Julian Nichols led WOU with 17 points. Lewis Thomas chipped in an 11–point, 14–rebound double–double for the Wolves.

CSUMB returns to action and opens its CCAA schedule next week when it hosts UC San Diego Friday and Cal Poly Pomona Saturday in The Kelp Bed. Tipoff both nights is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.