ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Wildcats men's basketball team was defeated by the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters 72-58 Sunday afternoon in Nicholson Arena.

Quoting Head Coach Brandon Rinta
"Credit to Monterey Bay, they outplayed us in the second half. We didn't rebound like we needed to. Offensively we have to take some steps. It's going to be hard to win if the ball doesn't move more and we find a way to step up and make shots."

Notable Stats

• Maverick Sanders led the 'Cats in scoring with 14 points and rebounds with six boards.
• Cavin Holden and Eli Williams led the team with two assists each.
• Calvin Sisk led in blocking with four total swats and shooting percentage going 5-7 for a .714 average.

First Half

• CSUMB struck first, going on a 9-4 run to take the early lead.
• Central answered with a 15-4 run to claim a 19-13 lead.
• The Otters answered and retook the lead with a 10-2 run to lead 23-21.
• Cavin Holden hit a three-pointer and was fouled; the and-one was good as the Wildcats led 25-23.
• The teams then traded the next several points with a Konner Baroni dunk to tie the game at 31-31 to close out the first half.
• Monterey Bay recorded a .412 field goal percentage in the first half, out-performing CWU's .345 average.

Second Half

• The teams traded the lead in the first minute of the half before the Otters scored five points to lead 37-33.
• Central answered with a 4-1 run to trail 38-37.
• CSUMB held off the 'Cats and built on their lead with a 7-2 run to lead 45-39.
• CWU responded and began to chip away at the lead, answering free throws with jumpers and three-pointers, and eventually trailed 55-52.
• The Otters dropped a bucket to lead by five, but a Garrett Anderson layup and a Sanders dunk brought the Wildcats within one point at 57-56.
• The teams traded the next four points as the score would come to 59-58.
• The last four and a half minutes of the game saw Monterey Bay score 13 unanswered points as Central couldn't make any of their final seven shot attempts fall, as the Otters came away with the victory with the final score being 72-58.

Up Next
The Wildcats are home next as they take on the Walla Walla University Wolves on Thursday, Nov 14. Tip-off from Nicholson Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.