SEASIDE, Calif. — Thanks to a pair of 18-point performances by Jackson Gion and Armani Nicolis, Sonoma State reeled in a 72-64 win over Cal State Monterey Bay Saturday night to open their 2017 CCAA schedule. 

The Otters jumped out to a six-point lead to open the game before Sonoma State went on an 11-2 run over the next 4:51 to reclaim the lead, 15-10. The Seawolves pushed their margin to seven points—their largest of the period—with 7:52 remaining in the first half, relying on 10 points by Jackson Gion. Gion would go on to finish the half five-for-eight from the field, putting up a total of 12 points in the first half.

Before the end of the period, Monterey Bay found their way back into the game, tying things up 26-26 with 4:46 remaining. However, the Otters were unable to find a lead before the break, as SSU took a 33-32 lead into the half. 

CSUMB found their stride to begin the second half, after a Mateo Jones dunk put the Otters back in the driver's seat with 19:34 remaining. Monterey Bay prevented Sonoma State from retaking a lead for nearly the next eight minutes before Brandon Tillis and Gion combined to sink six straight free-throws. 

With 11:17 remaining in the game, the Seawolves controlled a slim 48-44 margin. The lead would change four times over the next 7:04, as the Otters capitalized on the long ball, going three-for-four from beyond the arc. However, with a Davion Mize jumper, the Seawolves took a 64-62 lead that would hold through the final 2:30 of the game. With a 10-2 run to end the game, Sonoma State played to an eight-point advantage as their 72-64 score went final in regulation.

With the win, the Seawolves move to 3-2 on the season and 1-0 in conference play before heading to Turlock on Tuesday to take on Stanislaus State at 5:30pm PT.