Men's Basketball | February 10, 2015

TORO 3–DOT NOTES (6–16, 2–13 CCAA): The Toros will enter Friday's game coming off their biggest win of the season, a 79–76 upset of Humboldt State last Saturday in The Torodome…Former Otter Steve Becker is in his first full season as head coach…Ventura College transfer Ivan Dooley tops the Otter scoring chart at 12.2 ppg…So./F Justin Sadler adds 10.8 ppg and is the team's top rebounder at 6.9 rpg…free–throw shooting has been an Achillies' Heel of the Toros, who rank last in the conference at 62.7 percent.

WHEN LAST WE MET: The Otters led by as many as 12 points twice in the second half but had to survive a late Toro run to earn an 83–77 win in The Kelp Bed on Jan. 10. Evan Zeller led the way with 17 points for the Otters while Marquise Washington chipped in 12. Shaq Hunter came off the bench to score a then season–high 18 points for the Toros.

WHEN LAST WE PLAYED: Despite suffering severe frostbite on their shooting hands (see below), the Otters nearly pulled out what would have been a big win over Sonoma State, only to fall in overtime, 82–74. The lead changed hands twice in the final minute of regulation before a Marquise Washington layup with seven seconds remaining forced overtime. CSUMB took the lead on its first possession of the extra period, but missed its final four from the field as well as four of its final seven free–throw attempts, allowing the Seawolves to pull away late.

THIS DATE IN OTTER HISTORY: The Otters made 27 free throws—at the time the No. 10 mark in the CSUMB record book—but Cal State Dominguez Hills pulled out an 83–72 win in The Kelp Bed on Feb. 13, 2009.

ALEX 1K: Alex Fertig enters Friday's game at Cal State Dominguez Hills with 986 points. He needs 14 to become the fifth player in Otter history to reach 1,000. If he maintains his current pace, Fertig will finish the regular season No. 3 on the Otter career scoring list with more than 1,050 points. Brandon Ward owns the Otter career–scoring record with 1,231 points.

DUDE, THAT'S COLD: Saturday's game versus Sonoma State never would have reached overtime if the Otters hadn't suffered an epic cold spell. After Mateo Jones made CSUMB's first 3–point attempt of the night, the Otter missed their next 14. They didn't make their second (and final) trey until Patrick Lefiti knocked one down on their first possession of overtime.

QUINTUPLE DOUBLE FIGURES: The Otters placed five scorers in double figures Jan. 17 at Humboldt State, the first time they have accomplished the feat this season. The last time five Otters turned that trick in a single game came in an 89–83 win over Cal State East Bay on Dec. 20, 2013.

60 SHALL BE THE NUMBER, NO LESS: With apologies to Monty Python, the number for the Otters shall be 60, not three. Following CSUMB's 66–59 loss at Cal Poly Pomona last Friday, the Otters are now 0–44 when scoring fewer than 60 points dating back to the 2004–05 season, their first at the NCAA Division II level. The last time the Otters scored fewer than 60 points and won was a 54–53 decision over Cal Poly Pomona in The Kelp Bed on Jan. 29, 2005.

OTTERS AMONG THE CCAA LEADERS: With Evan Zeller, the league's No. 2 scorer, leading the way, the Otters are well represented in the CCAA's Top 10 lists. Otters making the grade include: SCORING: No. 2 Evan Zeller (15.8 ppg); *3PT%: No. 5 Evan Zeller (.384); FT%: No. 3 Daye Turner (.851), No. 7 Evan Zeller (.800); REBOUNDS: No. 5 Greg Anderson (6.9 rpg); ASSISTS: No. 5 Patrick Lefiti (3.2 apg).  *Min. 2.0 made per game

IT'S A TEAM GAME AFTER ALL: The Otters are also well–represented among the CCAA team stat leaders, including leading the CCAA in rebounding (34.9 rpg) and ranking No. 2 on the circuit in scoring (71.2 rpg). They also rank No. 3 in assists (13.0 apg) and No. 5 in field goal percentage (.455).

HE GIVITH AND HE TAKETH AWAY: Alex Fertig moved up to the No. 7 spot on the CSUMB career assist list with 150, passing Steve Becker (147). On the flip side, he enters the game No. 6 on the Otter career steals list with 78. He needs one more to catch Steve Monreal for fifth. He has a chance to catch Joe Mitchell's school record of 91 by season's end.