SEASIDE, Calif. — For one season at least, the Otter won the title of most ferocious adorable ocean predator as the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team defeated the Penguins of Dominican University 74–62 Wednesday night in The Kelp Bed.

CSUMB (2–1 overall) won its home opener for the third consecutive season while Dominican fell to 1–2, all against CCAA competition.

Evan Zeller (Mission Viejo HS) matched his career best with a game–high 19 points. Sophomore Mateo Jones (Victorville/Silverado HS) came off the bench to add a career–high 14 points.



Although there were only five ties and two lead changes, the game featured wide swings of momentum and wasn't settled until the final two minutes of regulation. Domincan got the ball rolling by racing to an early 7–point lead only to see the Otters turn the tables and go up by seven themselves later in the period.

A 16–2 run to open in the second half gave CSUMB the biggest lead of the night for either team at 54–39 less than five minutes after the restart. But momentum swung quickly in the other direction and the Penguins roared back.

Domincan's 19–2 run over the ensuing eight minutes turned the game on its ear and gave the Penguins a surprising 58–56 lead inside the final eight minutes. But an Isaiah Smith (Vancouver, Wash./Columbia River HS) layup off a sweet assist from Patrick Lefiti (Bay Point/Los Medanos College) and a tough baseline jumper from Daye Turner (Compton/Centennial HS) sparked a 9–0 run that proved to be the coup des grace for the Otters.

Dominican never held the ball within two possession of the lead again.

In addition to Zeller and Jones, Greg Anderson (Murietta/Palomar College) grabbed a game–high eight rebounds for the Otters while Lefiti passed four assists. Dominique Taplin and Christopher Schwartz–Edmisten led the Penguins with 15 points apiece.

CSUMB hits the road for its fourth consecutive game against Pacific West Conference opposition when it travels to Belmont to face Notre Dame de Namur Saturday at 3 p.m. The Otters return home to host Western Oregon Nov. 28 at 6 p.m.