FULL NOTEBOOK (PDF)

SEASIDE, Calif.—Opportunity awaits for the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team with a chance to move up as many as four spots in the CCAA standings on tap this weekend. The Otters will look to pay back Cal State San Bernardino for a late comeback in their first meeting this season when the Coyotes visit The Kelp Bed Friday (Jan. 26). Saturday (Jan. 27) will see CCAA leader and No. 25 ranked Cal Poly Pomona visit. Both games will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. as the nightcap of men's/women's doubleheader action.

Fans who can't make it to The Kelp Bed can follow all of the action over the air and online. Both games will be broadcast locally on Ch. 73, with Embele Awaipi at the mike, and on KION 101.FM, where Rob Ponce will call the play-by-play and Alex Hudson will handle the color. Live stats and video streams will be available as always on www.OtterAthletics.com.
 

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COYOTE 3–DOT NOTES (8–10, 6–8 CCAA): The Coyotes have struggled a big since beating the Otters on Dec. 30, but have won two of their last three entering the week…picked up their first road win of the season at Humboldt State (90–79) on Jan. 13…lineup features balanced scoring with six players averaging between 9.2 and 12.2 points per game…Tennessee Tech transfer Jarcardo Hawkins (Sr./F) leads the Coyotes in both scoring (12.2 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg).

WHEN LAST WE MET: Four consecutive turnovers cost the Otters a late lead and, ultimately, the game in a 77–68 loss in Coussoulis Arena on Dec. 30. CSUMB led 68–67 before the Coyotes scored the final 10 points. Josh Kollman led the Otters with 15 points. Gregg Polosky had five blocks. A.J. Efferson led all scorers with 23 points for San Bernardino.

WHEN LAST WE PLAYED: For the second consecutive game, a cold–shooting second half undid an otherwise strong performance, this time in a 79–65 loss at San Francisco State Saturday night. The Otters made just 11-of-30 from the field in the second period, allowing the Gators to pull away down the stretch. Mateo Jones led MB with a 15–point, 10–rebound double–double. 

THE GAME WAS STATISTICALLY OVER WHEN… A Jason Wickliffe jumper made it 76–60 SFSU with 2:36 remaining.

THIS DATE IN OTTER HISTORY: Rocky Steryo made a then CSUMB record seven 3–pointers to lead CSUMB over Simpson College 76–64 on Jan. 26, 2002.

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 two more steals Saturday at San Francisco State, giving him 99 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.

A HANDFUL OF DOUBLE–DOUBLES… Mateo Jones earned his fifth double–double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds Saturday at San Francisco State. He becomes the first Otters to post five double–doubles in one season since Joe Mitchell had 10 during the 2008–09 campaign.

ANOTHER HIGH FIVE FOR JOHNSON… Jahvon Johnson posted five assists for the second consecutive game Saturday night at San Francisco State. It marks the second time this season (and the second time in his career) her has turned that trick.

BOMBS AWAY (CONTINUED)… With eight more 3–pointers Saturday night in San Francisco, the Otters now have 180 on the season, matching the total of 2005–06 squad in the No. 4 spot in the CSUMB record book. Next up is the 2015–16 team that made 204 treys. The all–time record is held by the 1998–99 squad that made 245 in 31 games.

AMONG THE CCAA LEADERS: Mateo Jones enters the week ranked No. 2 the CCAA in rebounding (8.8 rpg) and No. 3 in steals (1.9 spg). Other Otters among the leaders include: BLOCKS: Gregg Polosky (No. 5, 1.1 bpg); REBOUNDING: Gregg Polosky (No. 8, 6.6 rpg); SCORING: Jahvon Johnson (No. 15, 13.2 ppg); 3-pt FG pct.: Josh Kollman (No. 3, .456); 3-pt FG per game: Josh Kollman (No. 1, 3.3/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.