San Francisco State Invitational

Game 7
CSUMB vs. Academy of Art
Friday, Dec. 12, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.

Game 8
CSUMB vs. Concordia, Irvine
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.

Main Gymnasium
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Game Notes

OPENING TIP:
The Otters travel north in their first road trip, to compete in the San Francisco State Invitational. CSUMB opens the tournament against the Academy of Art Urban Knights on Friday, Dec. 12, followed by a match-up against Concordia University, Irvine on Saturday, Dec. 13. 

LOOKING AHEAD:
CSUMB hosts Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday, Dec. 20, in their final game before the holiday break. 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 URBAN KNIGHTS:
Academy of Art (0-6) is still searching for their first victory in their inaugural season, dropping a 85-52 decision to Fort Lewis College in the second game of the Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Grand Canyon University on Nov. 29.  The Urban Knights has 10 athletes on their roster and has had a different player lead in points in each game. Players to watch: sophomore Phillip Samuel (11.9 ppg, 20-25 free throws), Hunter Hayden (9.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg).
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES :
Concordia, who is ranked No. 4 in the latest NAIA national polls, opened the Golden State Athletic Conference play 2-0 with victories over Westmont (67-56) and Hope International (84-59) this past weekend.   Players to watch: senior Tyler Gottstein (14.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 50.8 percent from the field), seniors Kingsley Costain (11.9 ppg, team-best 20 assists, 18-21 free throws), freshman Cameron Gliddon (10.7 ppg, 2.1 apg,). 

LAST TIME AGAINST AAU:
Senior Steve Monreal scored a team-high 23 points to lead the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team to a 73-56 victory over Academy of Art University on Monday, Nov. 24, at the Otter Sports Center. #Steve Monreal# went 10-for-13 from the field and racked up four steals and four assists. Senior #Joe Mitchell# recorded his second consecutive double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Senior #Jose Sanchez# finished with nine points.  The Otters shot 62.5 percent from the field in the second half to pull away from the Urban Knights. CSUMB outrebounded AAU 36-26.

AGAINST CHICO STATE:
The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team continued its five-game winning streak as the Otters recorded an 87-84 victory over the Chico State Wildcats on Friday at the Otter Sports Center in front of a standing only record crowd. The Otters had four players score double-digits with junior #Keith Wilson# leading the way with 15.  Junior #Dante Green# recorded 14 points, going 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Seniors #Jose Sanchez# and #Joe Mitchell# added 12 points apiece.  Sanchez had a season-high eight rebounds.

AGAINST CAL STATE STANISLAUS:
In front of a sold out crowd, the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team kept its undefeated season alive with an 80-68 victory over Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday at the Otters Sports Center. In their third consecutive game, the Otters had four players make double-digits.  Senior #Steve Monreal# led the team with 15 points and six assists. Junior #Dante Green# nabbed a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds.  Senior #Joe Mitchell# and junior #Keith Wilson# added 14 and 10 points respectively.

POST GAME COMMENTS BY BISHOP:
Against Chico State: “I am very proud of the guys tonight. Every conference team comes to play and we learned a valuable lesson tonight: that we have to bring our A game every night. Great rebounding from our guards tonight made the difference.”

Against Cal State Stanislaus: “We had a huge weekend. The guys played very hard and we came away with two home wins. This puts us right where we want to be and we continue to get better as a team in all phases of the game.”

MAKING IT REAL:
Senior #Steve Monreal# has emerged as CSUMB's top scoring threat, averaging 21.5 points per game in his first four starts.  He is shooting 49.1 percent overall but has been even more impressive at the free throw line, making 30-for-34 (88.2 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# is eight points away from accomplishing 750 career points. MItchell scored a season high 14 points against Cal State Stanislaus on Dec. 6 in front of a record crowd. 

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 open the 2008-09 season undefeated at home with six victories, the best start in school team history. 

DEFENSE LEADING FROM DOWNTOWN:
Cal State Monterey Bay leads the CCAA in three-point field goal percentage on defense, holding opponents to 33-for-127 (26.0 percent) from beyond the arc. 

BALANCED OFFENSE:
The Otters have four players averaging double digits in scoring in their first six games of the season.  Senior #Steve Monreal# is leading the pack with 17.8 points per game, while junior #Dante Green# is coming off the bench to add 12.2 per game.  Junior #Keith Wilson# is also contributing 12.2 per game, and senior #Joe Mitchell# is rounding out the group with 10.8 per game. 

CCAA LEADERS:
(as of 12/08/09)
#Steve Monreal# - 3rd in points (17.8 per game); free throw percentage (89.1 percent), 3rd in assists (5.0 per game); 3rd in steals (2.3 per game).

#Joe Mitchell# - 2nd in total rebounds (51), 3rd in rebounding (8.5 per game); 3rd in defensive boards (5.8 per game).

#Dante Green# - 14th (tied) in points (12.2 per game), 4th in rebounding (7.3 per game); 7th in defensive boards (4.3 per game); 8th (tied) in offensive boards (2.8 per game).

#Keith Wilson# - 5th in field goal percentage (62.5 percent), 14th (tied) in points (12.2 per game).