SEASIDE, Calif. — Like the Otter women did in Friday night's opener, the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team began Friday's CCAA affair with Cal State L.A. by making just one of its first 16 attempts from the floor. Despite its glacially slow opening, the Otter men rallied to take the lead, only to give the game away late in a 61–56 loss to Cal State L.A.

CSULA lead 16–2 out of the gate as CSUMB scored just three points in the first 12:24. But the Otter defense held firm and, thanks to a red–hot performance from sophomore Evan Zeller (Mission Viejo HS), CSUMB climbed back to within 22–18 by halftime.

Zeller scored 11 of CSUMB's 18 points in the first half and finished with a game–high 24. That effort allowed him to retake the CCAA scoring lead at 17.2 points per game.

A 7–1 run to open the second stanza gave the Otters their first lead, 25–23, an advantage the Otters held for most of the second half. They never gained significant separation, however, and allowing the Golden Eagles to hang around proved to be fatal.

An acrobatic layup and free throw by Jorey Scott (Reno, Nev./Miramar College) put the Otters up 43–37 before a stop on the next L.A. possession gave CSUMB a chance to extend its lead. But they failed to take advantage of the opportunity and the Golden Eagles responded with a 9–3 run to knot the game at 46–46.

An Alex Fertig (Fresno/Buchanan HS) 3–pointer gave CSUMB its final lead at 51–48 before Joshua Munzon responded by making one from NBA range to even the score with 1:11 remaining. The Otters had two cracks at retaking the lead before a LaBradford Franklin three put the Golden Eagles on top to stay, 54–51, with 42 seconds to play.

A Fertig layup cut the deficit to one point and the Otters possessed the ball twice with chances to tie or take the lead in the final 21 seconds, but couldn't get over the hump.

CSUMB will close its brief 2–game homestand Saturday by hosting Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Toros are led by former Otter guard Steve Becker, who will coach for the first time on his alma mater's home floor.
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