SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team got supernova hot in the second half, but it wasn't enough to stop visiting UC San Diego from holding on for an 86–80 win Thursday night in The Kelp Bed.

UCSD led by as many as 20 points in the second half and still led by 15 at 63–48 with less than eight minutes remaining. Led by senior guard Brian Garrett (San Carlos/St. Francis HS), who scored 13 of his game–high 20 points in the second half, the Otter nearly erased that deficit in its entirety.

Garrett made a pair of 3–pointers as part of CSUMB's 10-for-14 second half from beyond the arc. That effort pulled CSUMB back to within five points before the Tritons stemmed the tide in the final minute.

In addition to Garrett, Jahvon Johnson (Clovis North HS) scored 17 points, Josh Kollman (Bothell, Wash./Bothell HS) had 15 and Mateo Jones (Victorville, Calif./Silverado HS) added a 12–point, 12–rebound double–double.
 

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THE GAME WAS STATISTICALLY OVER WHEN… Christian Oshita grabbed the rebound off a missed, desperation 3–point attempt with seven seconds remaining and UCSD leading 84–77.

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN… The Otters went 15-for-27 from 3–point range Thursday night versus UCSD. The 15 3–pointers rank No. 2 in the CSUMB record book, trailing only the 18 they made against San Francisco State on Dec. 17, 2017.

MORE FROM WAY DOWNTOWN… CSUMB'S 15 3–pointer performance Thursday night brings its season total to 151 through 15 games. With 11 games remaining, that mark already ranks No. 11 on the Otter all–time list. At their current pace, the Otters would smash the school single–season record of 245 set back in its third season of existence (1998–99). CSUMB played 33 games that season.

DOUBLE–DOUBLE TROUBLE… Mateo Jones recorded his team–leading fourth double–double of the season (12 pts., 12 reb.) Thursday against UCSD. After Thursday's action, he ranks No. 2 in the CCAA at 9.1 rebounds per game.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Brian Garrett 20; REBOUNDS: Mateo Jones 12; ASSISTS: Jonquis Bouyea/Koen Sapwell 3; BLOCKS: Brian Garrett/Jahvon Johnson/Gregg Polosky 1; STEALS: Brian Garrett/Jahvon Johnson/Gregg Polosky 1.

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters conclude their 3–game homestand with a rare matinee doubleheader against Cal State San Marcos. The women will tip-off at 1:30 p.m. and the men will tip-off at 3:30 p.m.