SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Cal State Monterey Bay put itself in prime position Saturday night to beat Cal State San Bernardino in Coussoulis Arena for the first time ever. But in a fit of post–Christmas spirit, the Otters quite literally gifted the Coyotes a win, turning the ball over four consecutive times in the waning moments to allow San Bernardino to escape, 77–68.

It was a taut game, with the teams playing through four ties and six lead changes in the final 16 minutes. The Otters tied the game for the final time at 65–65 on a pair of Gregg Polosky (San Ramon Valley HS) free throws—CSUMB's only free–throw attempts in the game. A Josh Kollman (Bothell, Wash./Bothell HS) 3–pointer gave CSUMB its final lead at 68–67.

That's when the charity began. CSUMB turned the ball over on its next four consecutive possessions to allow San Bernardino to score the game's final nine points over the last 2:49 of regulation.

Seven of the eight Otters who saw action Saturday scored at least five points. Kollman led the balanced scoring effort with 15 points.
 

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THE GAME WAS STATISTICALLY OVER WHEN… Blake McBride grabbed a missed 3–point attempt by Mateo Jones with the Coyotes leading 77–68 and 33 seconds remaining.

A JJ SIX PACK… Jahvon Johnson ran his streak of scoring in double figures to six consecutive games with Saturday's 13–point effort. Its the first time in his career he has put together a 6–game streak. He is the first Otter to do it since Ryan Nitz reached double figures in 18 consecutive games from Nov. 21, 2015 through Feb. 6, 2016.

BACK ON THE BLOCKS… After going consecutive games without one, CSUMB's all–time blocks leader Gregg Polosky got back on the blocks Saturday night by rejecting Cal State San Bernardino five times. That is one off his CSUMB record of six blocks in a game set at Point Loma University on Nov. 19, 2016. He increased his CSUMB career record for blocks to 76.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… POINTS: Josh Kollman 15; REBOUNDS: Jonquis Bouyea/Mateo Jones/Gregg Polosky 8; ASSISTS: Jahvon Johnson 3; BLOCKS: Gregg Polosky 5; STEALS: Joe Covarrubias 2.

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters return to The Kelp Bed to ring in the new year by hosting Stanislaus State Thursday (Jan. 4) in the nightcap of a men's/women's doubleheader. Tip-offs will be at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.