ROHNERT PARK, CALIF. - On Saturday, December 4th, the Sonoma State men's basketball team closed out their home stand as they took on bay area rival SF State in their second CCAA matchup of the season. After a tight start to their conference opener on Thursday night against Cal State Monterey Bay, SSU would fall behind and fall into a shooting slump as a team. They would drop the game 50-75 but would turn right back around with a Saturday afternoon matchup against SF State. After an 0-7 start, head coach Rich Shayewitz and his group continued to seek out their first win of the season and the first for Shayewitz of his career with the men's program. 

Early shooting struggles would plague both teams as the first basket wouldn't come until the 16 minute mark. However, the Seawolves were forcing contested shots and low percentage looks from deep allowing for early misses from the Gators offense. Minutes later, a 6-0 run would spark for SSU as freshman Jaylen Wells scored inside and center Jeremy Lillis would follow with a finish on a tough layup in the paint to give SSU an 8-3 lead. Once again, Shayewitz and his group came out strong and created an early lead as the Seawolves led 19-10 on Thursday night against the Otters. After the first media timeout, Lillis would come out and convert on another layup inside assisted by Nick Klarman to give SSU a 10-3 lead. After the game reaching a 16-16 tie under the eight minute mark, Wells would convert on a three pointer with some swift ball movement from the Seawolves offense as they retook the lead. After both teams traded missed shots, Wells would show his defensive tenacity and create a turnover. He would take the ball himself into the lane on the break and draw a foul to head to the line for two. After hitting both free throws, SSU held a 24-20 lead just before the half. A 7-0 run when the Gators needed it most would allow them to retake the lead, 27-24 at the half. 

Overall, Shayewitz and the Seawolves played one of their more complete halves of basketball this season and put themselves in a great spot to upset a tough SF State team at home. The Gators also came off a huge win Thursday night on the road against the regionally ranked Jacks of Humboldt State. At the half, Jaylen Wells led the way with 10 points as he converted on two deep balls in the half. Senior guard Jake Salinero also provided quality minutes off the bench in the first half as he put up 4 points with a field goal and a split pair of free throws.     

SF State would come out of the half and own the first three minutes of the second period. A made three pointer on their first possession would extend their lead to six and their scoring run originating from the first half to 10 straight points. After a pair of made free throws from Wells, the Gators would convert on back-to-back possessions with a layup and a three ball to record their largest lead of the game at nine points. Sonoma State had a bit of a hill to climb but several players would help get them back in the game including guards Jake Salinero and Preston Blakely. Blakely would respond to the Gators three with a layup of his own as he took the ball himself, spun into the lane and finished the tough right handed bucket. On the Seawolves next possession, forward Nick Klarman would receive a great over the top pass off the roll from senior Wesley Gilbert to make it a five point game. As SF State's shooting woes from deep continued, SSU would come back down and Gilbert would convert a layup of his own to erase the Gators nine point lead all the way down to just three and a one possession ballgame! As the crowd roared in the Wolves' Den, the Gators coach was forced to take a timeout to slow the momentum with 14 minutes left in regulation. 

Coming out of the timeout, guard Preston Blakely would draw a shooting foul and convert on both of his free throws to make it a one point game. After the Gators finally stopped the bleeding and got a layup on the other end, the Seawolves would come back down and off of some terrific ball movement and play calling from the SSU staff, sophomore shooting guard Jacob Williams would find himself open for a game tying three ball on the wing to ignite the home crowd. Williams had been struggling from downtown all season long but hit a huge three there to tie the game and really swing the momentum for Sonoma State. With SF State on the ropes and after both teams traded missed shots, SSU came back down the floor again and set up another play for Williams in the corner where he would convert on another three ball to give the Seawolves a their first lead of the half. Senior shooting guard Kenny Olsem would assist Williams on the play with a nice swing pass into the corner. Olsem would get a layup of his own unassisted the very next possession to keep their three point lead after the Gators recorded a bucket following the Williams three. 

As we approached the ten minute mark, junior transfer Preston Blakely would give the Seawolves one of the most momentous plays of the game. Blakely would pick the pocket of the Gators guard and drive all the way down the court into the paint where he would rise up against SF State's 7-footer and convert the tough left handed layup, and draw the foul in the process. Blakely would popup from the floor in excitement as the Seawolves bench and crowd would erupt. Blakely hit the ensuing free throw to give SSU a six point lead. Shayewitz and his offense were shooting an impressive 53% at that time as they were 7 of 13 from the field in the second half. 

Senior guard Jake Salinero would continue his production off the bench as he forced a steal and then a foul on the other end to send him to the line for two. Before being subbed out, Salinero would hit both free throws to protect the Seawolves six point lead. As SF State slowly climbed their way back into the game after converting on a layup in transition, Jaylen Wells would be hit with a technical foul for flopping sending a Gators player to the line. The technical would allow for one shot at the line but SF State would miss the free throw and fail to slow the momentum of Sonoma State. As we passed the fve minute mark, the Gators would begin to simplify their shot selection and get into the paint for more high percentage looks. They would convert on a layup just under five minutes to make it a one point game and certainly an exciting finish. A split pair of free throws from SF State, followed by a jumper from Wells and then a layup from SF State and a foul on their next possession, would give the Gators a one point lead with just over a minute left in regulation.

After a Seawolves timeout, they would go to inbound the ball under the hoop on the offensive side of the floor. Salinero would take the ball towards the right and look for Klarman in the post, but after the initial denial from SF State, Salinero would swing the ball back to shooting guard Kenny Olsem at the top of the key. Olsem would fake left ad then drive hard right into the paint. After bringing the ball up and over and splitting two defenders, he would hesitate in midair to convert the tough layup and give SSU a one point lead! SF State would come back down the floor looking for a bucket or a foul but instead, teriffic one on one defense down low from guard Preston Blakely would force an errant pass from the Gator forward and Nick Klarman would come up with the steal. SSU now had a chance to put the game away with the clock under 45 seconds. 

SF State however would put up a tough defensive possession as Sonoma State couldn't find an open man and were unable to get a good look. Kenny Olsem had to throw up a shot to avoid the violation but the Gators would secure the rebound with another chance to take the lead. The Gators guard would attack in transition off the miss and look to get into the paint but freshman Jaylen Wells would step in just outside the restricted area and stand his ground to take the charge and force the turnover! SF State would foul Preston Blakely after the inbound to try and stop the clock and hope for misses at the line. Instead, Blakely made two clutch free throws to give SSU a three point lead and help seal the victory!    

Sonoma State gets their first win of the regular season and finish the weekend 1-1 in CCAA play. More importantly, head coach Rich Shayewitz records his first career win with the men's program here at SSU! Congratulations to Shayewitz and his team on a hard fought victory as they beat SF State 54-51. Jaylen Wells led the way with 14 points and went 4-4 from the free throw line. He also helped secure the win with a game saving charge. Guard Preston Blakely showed his poise and leadership as he helped organize the Seawolves offense down the stretch as he also went 5 for 5 from the free throw line to ice the game. Blakely would finish with 9 points and 6 boards on the night. Kenny Olsem would record the ultimate game winning bucket with his unassisted layup. Olsem finished the game with 6 points off the bench and 4 huge assists. 

The Seawolves hit the road next week as they take on Chico State on Saturday night. Live stat and stream links can be found at sonomaseawolves.com and all games can be streamed on the CCAA Network. Be sure to follow your Seawolves on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get all the latest SSU athletics updates and information. @SonomaSeawolves #NomaNation