Game 9
CSUMB vs. NDNU
Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

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Game Notes








OPENING TIP:
CSUMB hosts Notre Dame de Namur in their final non-conference game of the season on Saturday, Dec. 20, in their final game before the holiday break. The Otters are 6-0 at home this season.

LOOKING AHEAD:
The Otters recorded their first win of the 2007-08 season with a 63-55 decision over the Argonauts in the final game of the NDNU Thanksgiving Classic. Senior Joe Mitchell pulled down 11 rebounds and contributed eight points in the victory.

SCOUTING THE ARGONAUTS:
NDNU (3-5) is winless on the road after dropping its first two games of the season at the Seattle University Elgin Baylor Tip-off Classic (Nov. 15-16). NDNU wrapped up the 2007-08 season at 10-16 overall and finished second to last in the Pacific West with a 6-12 mark. Players to watch: Dan Bergeron (11.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 23 assists).

LAST TIME AGAINST NDNU:
The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team recorded its first win of the young season with a 63-55 decision over Notre Dame de Namur University on Sat, Nov. 24 in the final game of the 2007 NDNU Thanksgiving Classic in Belmont. For a second straight game, Augie Johnston led the Otters with 25 points. D'Shon Cannon continued his strong play with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in 40 minutes of play.  #Joe Mitchell# had a game-high 11 rebounds to go with 8 points and 5 assists. The Otters took a 33-27 lead into halftime and never trailed the Argos in the second half.   CSUMB stayed hot from the free throw line hitting 85 percent for the game including a 18-20 performance in the second half.  The Otters also won the battle of the boards with a 36-26 edge over the Argos.

OTTERS BREAK INTO THE NATIONAL STATISTICS:
CSUMB finds itself ranked 58th in the nation in free throw percentage (72.3), 62nd in three-point field goal defense (30.1 percent), 72nd in scoring (79.9 per game) and 72nd in rebound margin (+5.6). Individually, senior #Steve Monreal# is in the national top 100 of three categories: free throw percentage with 51-for-57 in eight games(89.5, 29th), assists per game (5.5, 32nd) and points per game (18.3, 79th).  Senior #Joe Mitchell# is ranked 61st after averaging 8.8 rebounds per game.

AGAINST AAU:
Senior #Steve Monreal's# free throws in the last minute clinched an 85-78 Cal State Monterey Bay victory over the Academy of Art Urban Knights in the opening game of the San Francisco State Invitational on Friday, Dec. 12. Senior #Jose Sanchez# paced the Otters with a game-high 21 points and four three-pointers. Monreal added 18 points. Senior #Joe Mitchell#'s earned his third double-double, registering 14 points and 10 rebounds. With the addition of Green's 12 points, CSUMB has had four players score double digits in their last four games. CSUMB was outrebounded for the first time this season, losing the battle of the boards, 45-40.

AGAINST CONCORDIA, IRVINE:
The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team saw their seven-game winning streak snapped on Saturday, Dec. 13, as the Otters fell 78-70 to NAIA No. 4 Concordia University, Irvine in the San Francisco State Invitational. The Otters shot 88.9 percent from the charity stripe (16-for-18) to the Eagles 70.8 (17-for-24).  Concordia dominated from beyond the arc, connecting on 11 triples to CSUMB's six. Senior #Steve Monreal# registered his first double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 assists. Junior #Dante Green# was the only other Otter in double figures with 11.  Senior #Joe Mitchell# added a team-high nine rebounds.

SFSU INVITE HONORS:
Senior #Steve Monreal# was selected to the 2008 San Francisco State Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 19.5 points and 7.0 assists.    Joining Monreal on the team is Tyler Gottstein Tournament MVP (UCI); Eric Beal (UCI); Robert Hayes (SFSU); Phil Friesen (UCI).

POST GAME COMMENTS BY BISHOP:
Against AAU: “I think we may have thought it was going to be easy. Academy of Art came out and played very hard. I am happy we got the victory, and now we need to get ready for a very good Concordia team tomorrow night.”

Against UCI: We played very good basketball down to the wire tonight and just came up short. We will learn from the mistakes we made and get better. We had a good run going and now it is time to start another one. We played very good defense for the most part tonight and I was very pleased with the effort and fight we had tonight.””

MAKING IT REAL:
Senior #Steve Monreal# has emerged as CSUMB's top scoring threat, averaging 18.3 points per game in his first four starts.  He is shooting 40.6 percent overall but has been even more impressive at the free throw line, making 51-for-57 (89.5 percent) from the charity stripe.  Monreal followed a 28-point outing against Alaska Fairbanks in the season opener with a 23-point effort against Academy of Art, representing the first time in his career at CSUMB he reached the 20-point plateau in back-to-back games.

RECORD WATCH:
Senior #Joe Mitchell# past the 750 career point milestone on Friday, December 12 after recording 14 points against Academy of Art University in the San Francisco State Invitational.  

LOOKING BACK:
Cal State Monterey Bay wrapped up last year on a high, winning 10 of their last 11 regular season conference games, ending the CCAA season with an 11-9 record. The Otters finished the season 12-15, tying the school record for most NCAA Division II victories in a season. Last season, CSUMB shooters from behind the arc were ranked 13th in the nation in three-point field-goal percentage (40.4).

BEST START IN SCHOOL HISTORY:
The Otters opened the 2008-09 season undefeated at home with six victories, the best start in school team history. 

BALANCED OFFENSE:
The Otters have five players averaging double digits in scoring in their first eight games of the season.  Senior #Steve Monreal# is leading the pack with 18.3 points per game, while junior #Dante Green# is coming off the bench to add 12.0 per game.  Senior #Joe Mitchell# and junior #Keith Wilson# is contributing 10.9 and 10.4 respectively.  Senior #Jose Sanchez# is rounding out the group with 10.0 per game. 

CCAA LEADERS:
#Steve Monreal# - 3rd in points (18.3 per game); 3rd free throw percentage (89.5 percent), 1st in assists (5.5 per game); 7th in steals (1.8 per game), 11th in 3-point field goals made (1.6 per game).

#Joe Mitchell# - 1st in total rebounds (70), 1st (tied) in rebounding (8.8 per game); 2nd in defensive boards (5.8 per game).

#Dante Green# - 14th in points (12.0 per game), 7th in rebounding (7.1 per game); 5th in offensive boards (2.4 per game); 7th in defensive boards (4.8 per game).

#Keith Wilson# - 7th in field goal percentage (54.2 percent), 21st (tied) in points (10.4 per game).