Men's Basketball | January 13, 2015

SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team plays a pair of critical road games against perennial CCAA powers this week when it travels to both ends of California to meet Cal State San Bernardino Thursday (Jan. 15) and Humboldt State Saturday (Jan. 17). The Otters enter the week tied with both teams for sixth place in the CCAA standings.

This will be the first meeting of the season against both the Coyotes and Lumberjacks. The Otters will close the home portion of their 2014-15 schedule by hosting them on Feb. 20-21.

Fans who can't make it to the games my listen live on KION 1460 AM/101.3 FM or online at www.OtterAthletics.com and KION's iHeartRadio stream. As usual, long time play-by-play man Rob Ponce will handle the call both nights.

Live stats will be available both nights. There will be no video from San Bernardino, but live video from Humboldt will be available on the Lumberjack UStream channel. Visit Gameday Central for all of the appropriate links.
 

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COYOTE 3–DOT NOTES (4–7, 4–4 CCAA): A tough nonconference schedule—one that included Azusa Pacific, Drury University and Western Washington—has taken a toll on San Bernardino's overall record…the Coyotes are coming off a pair of tough losses on the difficult Stanislaus–Chico trip, including a 75–73 OT loss to the Wildcats…Jacob Thomas, a transfer from Howard (Texas) Junior College has rejoined the Coyote lineup and is averaging 22.5 ppg in six appearances…Thomas scored 31 vs. Cal State L.A. and 30 last week at Chico.

WHEN LAST WE MET: Even though the final score went against the Otters, it might have been CSUMB's most entertaining game of the 2013–14 season. San Bernardino played through 11 ties and 19 lead changes to win on a Lacey Haddock layup with 1.5 seconds remaining, 79–77. Evan Zeller led the Otters with 20 points. MPC product Andrew Young scored 21 for the Coyotes.

WHEN LAST WE PLAYED: The Otters bounced back into the win column with a 83–77 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday in The Kelp Bed. The Otters led for the entire second half, although they didn't put the game on ice until the final minute. Evan Zeller led CSUMB with 17 points.

THIS DATE IN OTTER HISTORY: Davion Berry became the ninth player in Otter history to score more than 30 points in a game when he torched Sonoma State for 31 in a 98–90 win over the Seawolves on Jan. 15, 2011. Berry added five more 30+ point games that season, including a 41–point night in an 82–80 win over San Bernardino on Jan. 29, 2011.

LONG TIME COMING: Although they'd come close on several occasions, Saturday's win over Dominguez Hills was CSUMB's first victory against the Toros in The Kelp Bed since a 69–67 win on Jan. 26, 2007. To put that in greater perspective, Toro Head Coach Steve Becker was a player for the Otters that season.

CLOSE QUARTERS: The Otters and Coyotes have played some tight games in recent history. Four of the last eight meetings have been decided by two points (or in OT).

HIGH OCTANE: Expect a high scoring game Thursday night. The Otters and Coyotes have combined to score 348 points in their last two games at Coussoulis Arena, with each scoring at least 82 points.

DOUBLE–DOUBLE THE FUN: By tying his career high with 22 points while grabbing a career–high 13 rebounds in the win over Cal State East Bay, Greg Anderson became the first Otter (and, to date, only) to record a double–double this season. It was the first double–double by an Otter since Anderson scored 13 points and pulled down a (then) career–high 12 rebounds in a win 79–69 win at Sonoma Feb. 28, 2014.

20–20–20–20 VISION: Evan Zeller recorded his fourth 20–plus point game of the season when he lit Cal State L.A. for 24 last Friday. The last Otter to do that over a full season was Alex Fertig, who posted six 20–point games as a freshman in 2012–13.

OTTERS AMONG THE CCAA LEADERS: With Evan Zeller, the league's top scorer, leading the way, the Otters are well represented in the CCAA's Top 10 lists. Otters making the grade include: SCORING: No. 1 Evan Zeller (17.2 ppg); *3PT%: No. 5 Evan Zeller (.422); FT%: No. 8 Daye Turner (.821), No. 9 Evan Zeller (.803); REBOUNDS: No. 4 Greg Anderson (7.0 rpg), No. 7 Jorey Scott (5.8); ASSISTS: No. 5 Patrick Lefiti (3.5 apg), No. 9 Evan Zeller (2.7 apg).  *Min. 2.0 made per game

ON THE REBOUND: With 40 boards Jan. 9 versus Cal State L.A., the Otters took over the top spot on the CCAA rebounding list at 35.0 rebounds per game.

IT'S A TEAM GAME: In addition to leading the CCAA in rebounding, the Otters enter the week ranked No. 2 in the CCAA at 73.4 ppg. They also rank No. 2 in 3–point shooting (.376) and assists (13.6 apg). They rank No. 5 in field goal (.463) and free throw (.685) shooting as well.

THE 900 CLUB: Alex Fertig needs 12 points tonight to become the eighth player in CSUMB history to score 900 career points. At his current pace, he would finish the season with 1,066 points, No. 3 all–time and 164 points shy of Brandon Ward's Otter record (1,231).