SEASIDE, Calif. — A jackrabbit 7–0 start wasn't enough for the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team Saturday night as Cal State L.A. took advantage of a poor shooting effort from the Otters to take an 84–74 decision on CSUMB's Senior Night in The Kelp Bed.

CSUMB is normally one of the region's deadliest 3–point shooting teams, but the Otters made just 4–of–17 from beyond the arc in the first half, allowing L.A. to take a 38–29 lead at the break. A better shooting second stanza, in which CSUMB shot 50 percent (13-of-26) from the floor and 46 percent (5-of-11) from long range, allowed the Otters to take a pair of leads down the stretch, the last at 70–69 with 4:47 remaining.

But it took the Golden Eagles less than a minute to respond with a 7–0 run to regain the lead. They hit 6-of-7 free throws in the final minute to keep the Otters at arm's length.

Junior Gregg Polosky (San Ramon Valley HS) had a monster game for the Otters with a 15–point, 14–rebound double–double before fouling out with 6:29 to play. Stephen Matthews (Sacramento HS) added 14 points and Jahvon Johnson (Clovis North HS) scored 12.
 

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THE GAME WAS STATISTICALLY OVER WHEN… a Devin Means free throw gave L.A. an 82–72 lead with 39 seconds remaining.

IT'S CROWDED AT THE TOP… Mateo Jones collected one steal Saturday night, the 108th of his career. He needs one more over his final two games to break the CSUMB career record of 108 steals set by Alex Fertig (2013–16).

DOUBLE THE FUN… Gregg Polosky's 15–point, 14–rebound double–double Saturday versus Cal State L.A. was his fourth double–double of the season and the sixth of his career.

THE NOT SO STEALTH BOMBERS…  Despite shooting a subpar 32 percent (9-of-28) from 3–point land, CSUMB continued its aerial assault on the record book by draining nine more 3–pointers Saturday night. That give the Otters 236 for the season, still No. 2 on the all–time list. They have two games remaining to break to Otter record of 245 set by the 1998–99 squad.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Gregg Polosky 15; REBOUNDS: Gregg Polosky 14; ASSISTS: Brian Garrett 4; BLOCKS: Jahvon Johnson 1; STEALS: Stephen Matthews 2.

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters will hit the road for their final two games of the 2017–18 season. The trip begins with a men's/women's doubleheader Saturday (Feb. 17) at Cal State East Bay. The women will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. and the men will tip-off at 7:30 p.m.