Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO-- SF State rallied back from a 7-point half-time deficit to defeat the visiting Cal St. Monterey Bay Otters 60-55 this evening in a CCAA game at The Swamp. The Gators held their visitors to just 28% shooting in the second half and outscored them 36-24 to key their 60-55 conference win.
James Albright paced SF State with 14 points.
”Our point of emphasis was defensive this evening,” said SF State head coach
Paul Trevor. “We had to defend to win this evening and we did in the second half.”
The first half went back and forth with Cal St. Monterey Bay (3-4, 0-2 CCAA) taking a 26-20 lead with 3:45 to go in the half on a three by Coley Apsay. The Otters increased their lead to 29-20 on a three by Brandon Cole with 2:32 left in the half.
SF State (3-3, 1-1 CCAA) scored four of the halves' final six points to cut the deficit to 31-24 on a
Decensae White lay-up heading into the locker room.
The Gators came out firing in the second half as they took a 34-33 lead in the first four minutes of the second.
Cal St. Monterey Bay would not go away as they tied the score at 45-45 on two made free throws by Kris Gallop mid-way in the second half.
SF State then went on an 11-1 run capped by a
Calvin Otiono lay-up to take a 56-46 lead, the Gators' largest of the game.
The Otters cut the Gator lead to 58-55 with less than a minute left in regulation, but the Gators held on for the 60-55 win.
James Thomas led the Otters with 14 points off the bench while they shot 36% from the field while turning the ball over 19 times.
Besides Albright's 14 points,
Brandon Tatum had 12 points and
Robbie Herndon chipped in 10 points. Tatum also had 4 blocked shots and 7 rebounds. The Gators shot 39% from the field in the first half and 48% in the second half.
“We came out in the second half aggressively on offense and
Brandon Tatum gave us a good boost of energy,” added Trevor.
The Gators will return to the court next week for a home and away series with Sonoma State. The two teams will face each other in Rohnert Park, Calif., this Wednesday, Dec.5 for a 7:30 pm scheduled tip-off. They will then face the Seawolves a week from today, Dec. 8 at The Swamp for a 4:00 pm scheduled tip-off.
Box Score
