Men's Basketball | January 06, 2015

SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team will look to continue its best start since the 2008-09 season when it returns to The Kelp Bed for a pair of games this weekend. The Otters host Cal State L.A. Friday (Jan. 9) before welcoming former Otter player Steve Becker and his Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros Saturday (Jan. 10). Both games tipoff at 7:30 p.m. as the nightcaps of men's/women's doubleheader action.

Fans who can't make it to The Kelp Bed can watch locally in HD on Campus Televideo Ch. 73.1 and listen live on KION 1460 AM/101.5 FM. The games will also be streamed live on OtterAthletics.com. As usual, Rob Ponce will handle the play–by–play duties and former Otter assistant coach Alex Hudson will provide the color.

After this weekend, the Otters hit the road for the always arduous San Bernardino/Humboldt trip Jan. 17 and 19. They'll return to Seaside to host Cal State Stanislaus and Chico State Jan. 23-24.
 

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GOLDEN EAGLE 3–DOT NOTES (4–6, 2–4 CCAA): The Golden Eagles are under the direction of first year Head Coach Dieter Horton, who took over for Stephen Thompson in the summer…will be looking to avoid their second 3–game losing streak of the season when the visit The Kelp Bed Friday night…are coming off a pair of losses on the tough San Bernardino–Humboldt trip…both CCAA wins came over travel partner Cal State Dominguez Hills…No Golden Eagle is averaging in double figures through 10 games…Jr./G Joshua Munzon and Sr./F David Hall top the scoring chart at 8.8 and 8.6 ppg.

WHEN LAST WE MET: It was a tough shooting night for the Otters when they last met the Golden Eagles in Los Angles on Feb. 1, 2014. CSUMB didn't make a field goal for the first nine minutes and went on to miss 17 free throws in what became a 65–51 loss. Freshman forward Isaiah Smith came off the bench to score a career–high 12 points. Quinton Watkins led L.A. with 19 points and eight rebounds.

WHEN LAST WE PLAYED: The Otters came away with a road split last weekend after dropping a tough decision to defense–minded San Francisco State, 73–58, last Saturday in The City. Although they fell behind early, the Otters kept the game close for 38 minutes until the Gators finally put it out of reach from the free–throw line. Alex Fertig led CSUMB with 15 points.

THIS DATE IN OTTER HISTORY: Joe Mitchell pulled down 19 rebounds (still the No. 3 mark in the Otter record book) in an 80–70 loss at Cal State L.A. on Jan. 9, 2009.

EPIC ENCOUNTERS: The Otters and Golden Eagles have a history of epic encounters worthy of Cecil B. DeMille. The Otters have played more overtime periods against L.A. (8) than any other opponent. In fact, the two longest games in CSUMB history came in consecutive meetings—both three overtimes—on Feb. 3, 2007 and Jan. 18, 2008. The Otters took the first one, 109–106 but dropped the second, 122–118.

ALL GOOD THING MUST END: Evan Zeller's streak of double figure games ended at 11 games when he scored just five points at San Francisco State. He is one of only two Otters to reach double figures in the first 11 games of the season. In case you're wondering, Devoughn Lamont is the only player in Otter history to score in double figures in every game of a season, turning the trick 29 times in 2005–06.

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 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.

QUADRUPLE–DOUBLE THE FUN: The Otters have placed four scorers in double figures five times in 12 games this season. They accomplished that feat just eight times in 25 games last season.

OTTERS AMONG THE CCAA LEADERS: The Otters begin the week well represented in the CCAA's Top 10 lists. Otters making the grade include: SCORING: No. 2 Evan Zeller (16.7 ppg); *3PT%: No. 4 Evan Zeller (.402); FT%: No. 9 Evan Zeller (.820), No. 10 Daye Turner (.818); REBOUNDS: No. 4 Greg Anderson (6.8 rpg), No. 7 Jorey Scott (5.8); ASSISTS: No. 6 Patrick Lefiti (3.5 apg), No. 8 Evan Zeller (2.9 apg).  *Min. 2.0 made per game

IT'S A TEAM GAME: As a team, the Otters enter the week ranked No. 2 in the CCAA at 74.1 ppg. They also rank No. 2 in rebounding (34.9 rpg) and assists (13.7 apg). They rank No. 5 in all three shooting percentage categories (FG, 3P & FT) as well.

THE 900 CLUB: Alex Fertig needs just 31 points this weekend 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).

HE GIVITH AND HE TAKETH AWAY: Alex Fertig begins the week holding the No. 8 spot on the CSUMB career assist list with 128 He needs 19 more to catch Steve Becker for No. 7. On the flip side, he enters 2015 No. 6 on the Otter career list with 73 He has a chance to catch Joe Mitchell's school record of 91 by season's end.