SEASIDE, Calif. – Junior forward
Joey Bilello (Littleton, Colo./ThunderRidge HS) erupted for 15 points to help lead Cal State Monterey Bay to a 69-62 victory over UC Merced, Thursday evening at the Kelp Bed.
The victory concludes non-conference play for the Otters as they finish that portion of the schedule 3-2 to move to 5-3 on the season.
Bilello was 5-for-7 from the floor that included a 3-for-4 effort from beyond the arc. The Otters shot 50-percent (25-for-50) on the evening and sunk an astronomical 61-percent (11-for-18) of their three pointer attempts.
Six different Otters hit from three as freshman forward
Michael Mora (Palo Alto, Calif./Asheville School) also went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 on the night.
Jaden Tengan also dropped in a double-digit performance, scoring 10 points that included a 2-for-3 effort from three.
Blake Jones nearly had a double-double with nine points and aame-high eight rebounds.
KEEPING THE 3-POINT PARTY GOING: With 11 3-pointers Thursday against UC Merced, CSUMB continued to be prolific from long range, having made multiple 3-point field goals in 245 consecutive games. The last time they didn't make a 3–pointer came nine seasons ago when they went 0–for–9 in a 65–61 loss at Cal State L.A. on Feb. 1, 2014.
DOUBLE-DIGIT THREES: The Otters reached double digits in 3-pointers for the second time this season with 11 Thursday against the Bobcats. Double-digit treys have not been uncommon under Head Coach
Isaac Williams. The Otters have hit double-digit double digits (at least 10 games with 10 or more treys) in each of Williams's first six full seasons, including 15 times in both the 2021–22 and 2022–23 campaigns.
LEADERS OF THE RAFT…POINTS:
Joey Bilello 15; REBOUNDS:
Blake Jones 8; ASSISTS: Four with 2; BLOCKS:
Joey Bilello 2; STEALS:
Konner Baroni 1.
THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters will remain home and dive back into conference play as they host Stanislaus State on Saturday, Dec. 21. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Kelp Bed.
