Men's Basketball | January 16, 2018

FULL NOTEBOOK (PDF)

SEASIDE, Calif.—To borrow a phrase from the golf world, moving day is on the calendar for the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team with a pair of CCAA games on tap in the other Bay area this weekend. CSUMB travels to play at Sonoma State Friday (Jan. 19) and at San Francisco State Saturday (Jan. 20).

With a pair of wins, the Otters could jump all the way to eighth place and an CCAA Tournament position. With a pair of lossess, CSUMB could fall as far as 13th place, doubling the importance of the contests.

Fans who can make the trip with the Otters can follow all of the action live online. Links to live coverage from both SonomaSeawolves.com and SFStateGators.com will be available in one convenient place at OtterAthletics.com. The games will be broadcast locally as well on KION 101.1 FM and the KION iHeartRadio app.
 

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SEAWOLF 3–DOT NOTES (7–8, 5–6 CCAA): After losing 5-of-6 from late November through the start of the new year, Sonoma has rebounded to win three of its last four, including a sweep of the Dominguez Hills/L.A. trip last weekend…Armani Nicolis (Jr./G) is the only Seawolf scoring in double figures at 13.1 ppg…he is also the team's top rebounder at 5.4 rpg.

WHEN LAST WE MET: The lead changed five times in the final 11 minutes before Sonoma out–scored the Otters 16–5 over the final 4:39 of regulation to win 72–64 in The Kelp Bed Thanksgiving weekend. Jahvon Johnson led a trio of Otters in double figures with 14 points. Jackson Gion and Armani Nicolis scored 18 apiece for Sonoma.

WHEN LAST WE PLAYED: The Otters were primed for a big win until 3–pointer by Ethan Alvano with less than three seconds remaining capped a late San Marcos surge to give the Cougars an 84–81 win Saturday afternoon in The Kelp Bed. Mateo Jones led four Otters in double figures with 19 points. Alvano scored an Otter opponent season–high 38 for CSUSM. 

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

THIS DATE IN OTTER HISTORY: Dante Green set a CSUMB record that still stands by going 12-for-12 from the field as part of a career–high 32–point night in a 107–96 win at Cal State Stanislaus on Jan. 19, 2007.

WELCOME ABOARD ISAAC WILLIAMS: Isaac Williams comes to CSUMB after posting a 120–41 record in five seasons as head coach at Eastern Oregon University. He replaced Rob Bishop, who went 86–157 in nine seasons with the Otters. Williams led EOU to a 24–9 record and the second round of the NAIA Championship Tournament in 2016–17.

A THIEF IN THE EVENING: Mateo Jones collected four steals Saturday versus San Marcos, 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.

FROM DOWNTOWN: With 13 3–pointers Saturday against San Marcos, 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.

AMONG THE CCAA LEADERS: Mateo Jones enters the week ranked No. 2 the CCAA in rebounding (9.0 rpg) and No. 4 in steals (2.0 spg). Other Otters among the leaders include: BLOCKS: Gregg Polosky (No. 5, 1.1 bpg); REBOUNDING: Gregg Polosky (No. 6, 6.6 rpg); SCORING: Jahvon Johnson (No. 12, 13.3 ppg); 3-pt FG pct.: Josh Kollman (No. 2, .443); 3-pt FG per game: Josh Kollman (No. 1, 3.4/g), Koen Sapwell (No. 10, 2.1/g).

WE LOVE THE 80s: The 80s have usually been incredibly friendly territory for the Otters in recent history. Last weekend, however the Otters lost both games while scoring 80 or more points. It marks the first time since Dec. 30 2011–Jan. 5, 2012 that they scored 80+ in consecutive games and lost them both. Thursday's 86–80 loss to UCSD and Saturday's 84–81 loss to San Marcos dropped CSUMB mark to 41–7 (.854) in its last 48 games when scoring at least 80 in regulation dating to the 2007–08 season.

WORKING OVERTIME: CSUMB's OT win at UCSD on Dec. 8 was its third overtime game of the season. That matches its most overtime games since the Otters played a school–record four such contests in 2006–07.