SEASIDE, Calif. — Despite being down two more key players, already short–handed Cal State Monterey Bay went toe–to–toe with CCAA contender Cal State L.A. before falling 85–75 Sunday evening in The Kelp Bed.

Joseph Bosetti (Red Bluff HS) led four Otters in double figures with 15 points and pulled down a team–high nine rebounds. Freshman J.R. Schilling (Lake Oswego [Ore.] HS) added season–highs of 14 points and eight boards.

The Otters dressed just 10 players for the game and all of them saw action against much bigger Golden Eagle squad. Nevertheless, CSUMB stayed within striking distance for the duration, never tailing by more than 12 points in the contest.

Every time the Otters pulled to within a single possession in the second half, however, L.A. made the next two buckets to keep them at arm's length. A Devin means 3–pointer and layup on consecutive possessions eventually pushed the Golden Eagle advantage to 10 points, 79–69, before the teams essentially traded scores over the final three minutes.
 

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THE GAME WAS STATISTICALLY OVER WHEN… Shacquille Dawkins made a layup with 1:06 remaining to put L.A. on top 85–73.

IT'S A TEAM GAME… Although the Otters dressed just 10 players Sunday, all 10 contributed to the effort. Everybody either scored or rebounded in the game, with eight different players scoring and eight different players grabbing at least one board.

SIZZLING FROM THE STRIPE… The Otters continue to shoot free throws at a near record clip this season, making 13–of–15 (.833) Sunday versus L.A. CSUMB is now shooting 73.7 percent from the stripe through 10 games. That mark would rank No. 3 on the Otter single–season list. The 2006–07 Otters set the standard by converting at 74.5 percent.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB, TOMMY… Freshman Tommy Kramer scored a season–high 10 points in 23 minutes off the bench Sunday. He becomes the eighth Otter to score in double figures this season.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Joseph Bosetti 15; REBOUNDS: Joseph Bosetti 9; ASSISTS: Jahvon Johnson 4; BLOCKS: Tommy Kramer 1; STEALS: Jahvon Johnson/Charlie Tooley 2.

THE LAST WORD… ""While we didn't win the game, I was proud of the guys' effort tonight playing so short–handed." – CSUMB Head Coach Isaac Williams


THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters will play their final pre–Christmas game Wednesday (Dec. 19) when they host Pac West Conference foe Fresno Pacific University in The Kelp Bed. Tip–off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.