SEASIDE, Calif. — The No. 21-ranked San Francisco State men's basketball team used an efficient second half to down Cal State Monterey Bay 85-77 at the Kelp Bed on Friday night.

Winners of five consecutive games and eight of their last 10, the Gators (19-3/11-3 CCAA) entered play as the nation's top field-goal percentage defense (38.0 percent). While that percentage rose slightly to 38.2 percent, SF State held the Otters (3-19/1-15 CCAA) to 43.4 percent (23-of-53) from the field. The Gators also capitalized on CSUMB's mistakes, converting 16 turnovers into 23 points.

The last-place Otters hung around early but the Gators finished the first half an 8-2 run that gave them some breathing room, 41-37. SF State's momentum carried into the second half, where the Gators shot at a 62.5 percent clip (15-of-24). The Gators led by no fewer than two possessions in the second half. Israel Hakim's jumper pushed the lead to double digits at the 11-minute mark and Warren Jackson's jumper with 6:30 to go made it a 15-point game. Forty-four of the Gators' points came in the paint while the Otters scored just 18 points inside.

Physical play resulted in a combined 45 free throw attempts. Each team made 19 free throws, highlighted by Coley Apsay's 11-of-12 night at the free throw line. Apsay finished with 17 points and a team-high five rebounds.

Jackson, the reigning CCAA Player of the Week, was a perfect 5-of-5 at the charity stripe. The junior guard had 14 first-half points and finished with a game-high 22 points.

Five Otters reached double digits, led by 14 from Gregg Polosky.

Up Next
SF State heads to Hayward on Saturday evening, where the Gators will take on Cal State East Bay (12-12/5-11 CCAA) at 7:30 p.m.