BOX SCORE Sonoma State 68, Cal State Monterey Bay 66 -- Box Score
SEASIDE, Calif. -- Justin Herold scored a season-high 24 points, including the go-ahead (and eventual game-winning) layup with 1:44 left in the game to help the Sonoma State men's basketball team to a thrilling 68-66 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday night in Seaside. The Seawolves improve to 3-13 overall and 2-10 in the CCAA, while the Otters fall to 6-9 and 4-8.
The contest featured five ties and 13 lead changes, but it was Cal State Monterey Bay that held a lead for the majority of the night. It wouldn't end that way, however, as Herold's layup with just under two minutes left in regulation broke a 66-66 tie. On the ensuing possession by the hosts, Sonoma forced a turnover, only before Sonoma gave the ball right back with 1:08 to play. Fifteen seconds later, CSUMB's Greg Anderson misfired on a three-pointer and SSU grabbed the rebound and called a timeout soon thereafter.
Out of the timeout,
Sterling Arterberry attempted a three-pointer, but that, too, rimmed off and Cal State Monterey Bay would hold what would be the final possession of the ballgame with 17 seconds remaining. With fouls to give, the Seawolves fouled twice, but before they could foul once more and put the Otters on the line for a 1-and-1 opportunity, CSUMB's Evan Zeller threw up the potential game-winning three-pointer, but to no avail, and SSU held on for the victory.
All of the drama came after Sonoma enjoyed its largest lead of the game, 66-58 with 4:25 left in the second half, despite going into the halftime intermission down by 12 points at 37-25. Down by eight, CSU Monterey Bay responded with eight unanswered points over the next two and a half minutes before Herold's layin ended the hosts' run and the aforementioned script ensued.
Herold scored his game-high 24 points on 9 of 11 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free throw line.
Mike Harris chipped in with 11 points as the Seawolves shot 40.7 percent from the floor on 22 of 54 shooting and a near-perfect 94.7 percent from the free throw line on 18 of 19 attempts.
Cal State Monterey Bay got 15 points from both Zeller and Ryan Nitz, as they were the only two Otters scoring in double-figures.
Sonoma State will open the second half of the CCAA season next Friday on the road at Chico State, tipping off at 7:30 pm in Acker Gymnasium before heading to Cal State Stanislaus next Saturday. The Seawolves will then return home to play six of their final eight games of the season within the friendly confines of The Wolves' Den.
