SEASIDE, Calif. — Cal State Monterey Bay gave a phenomenal effort against CCAA title contender Cal State San Marcos only fall on a long 3–point with 2.3 seconds remaining in an 84–81 Cougar win Saturday evening in The Kelp Bed.

CSUMB led for almost the entire game, building leads as big as 12 points. San Marcos held the lead for just 1:57 and never led by more than two points until Ethan Alvano drilled an NBA–range 3–pointer with less than three seconds remaining to break an 81–81 tie. Alvano finished with 38 points and eight assists to account for 56 of the 84 San Marcos points.

For their part, the Otters did everything right to win the game except for the final shot. They out–rebound San Marcos (39–37), committed a season–low eight turnovers while forcing 14 from the Cougars, and shot a solid 46 percent (13-of-28) from beyond the arc.

Mateo Jones (Victorville/Silverado HS) led a well–rounded Otter effort with 19 points and game–highs of eight rebounds and four steals. Jahvon Johnson (Clovis North HS) added 14 points and was joined in double figures by Koen Sapwell (Adelaide, S. Australia/Trinity College Gawler) with 12 points and Stephen Matthews (Sacramento HS) with 11.
 

---

THE GAME WAS STATISTICALLY OVER WHEN… This one wasn't over until a Mateo Jones desperation 3–pointer didn't fall as time expired.

A THIEF IN THE EVENING… Mateo Jones collected four steals Saturday evening, giving him 96 for his career. He now stands alone in second place on the Otter career steals list, trailing only Alex Fertig, who set the Otter record of 108 from 2013–16.

KOLLMAN WINS 3–POINT SHOOTOUT… Saturday's game featured a head-to-head match up between the CCAA's top two 3–point shooters: CSUMB freshman Josh Kollman and San Marcos senior Josh Spiers. Kollman made three to two for Spiers. Kollman leads the CCAA by averaging 3.4 3–pointers per game while Spiers is No. 2 at 2.9. On the flip side, Spiers holds a slight edge 3–point percentage, .452 to .443.

FROM DOWNTOWN… With 13 3–pointers Saturday, the 2017–18 Otters vaulted all the way up to No. 9 in the CSUMB record book with 164 made. The Otter record for treys in a season is 245 (set over 33 games in 1998–99). This year's team is on pace to make 267 in just 26 games.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Mateo Jones 19; REBOUNDS: Mateo Jones 8; ASSISTS: Brian Garrett 4; BLOCKS: Mateo Jones 2; STEALS: Mateo Jones 4.

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters head to the other Bay area for a pair of games next weekend, beginning Friday (Jan. 19) at Sonoma State. The women will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. and the men will tip-off at 7:30 p.m.