ROHNERT PARK, CALIF. – On Thursday, January 26^th, the Sonoma State men's basketball team suffered their third straight loss and second straight one-possession defeat dating back to their final road game last weekend against Cal Poly Pomona. SSU held a four-point lead at the break, but costly turnovers and missed free throws left the door open for the Otters. 
 
Four straight made free throws for Monterey Bay after a pair of intentional fouls would maintain their three-point lead. Sonoma State's Austin Fadal would then see his three-point attempt fall just off the front rim as time expired, giving the Seawolves the 58-61 loss.  
 
FIRST HALF SSU 33-29 CSUMB:
 
To start the game, it was the conference's current scoring leader Jaylen Wells at it again as he kicked off the game scoring 6 of SSU's 8 points, giving the Seawolves an early 8-4 lead. Monterey Bay would find their way back and keep the lead within striking distance though as the Otters attacked the paint and forced some costly Seawolf turnovers, allowing them to score 9 points off of 8 forced turnovers. 
 
Under the 7-minute mark, the offense had slowed a bit for both teams but a jumper from Monterey Bay would cut the deficit to just three. However, the Seawolves would answer with a 9-1 scoring run which was capped off by back-to-back buckets from none other than Jaylen Wells. He would knock down a spot up three in the corner and then find his way through the Otters zone defense for a midrange pull up, giving the Seawolves their largest lead of the game at 11 points.  
 
The final four minutes would prove troublesome though for Sonoma State as Monterey Bay would collect themselves and go on a massive 9-2 run of their own to close the half and make it just a four-point game. A three ball and back-to-back jumpers as time expired would make it a 33-29 game at the break. 
 
Both teams shot under 42% from the field and well under 30% from three, but some late field goals from the Otters would put them right back in it at the half. Jaylen Wells went for an impressive 18 points in the half, with Austin Fadal adding 5 of his own. The Seawolves would outscore the Otters 10-3 from the free throw line to help build their early lead, but had their work cut out for them in the second half. 
 
FINAL SSU 58-61 CSUMB:
 
After a back-and-forth start to the second half, the Otters found themselves well within the game and down no more than two scores at a time. The Seawolves would continue to control the game and maintain the lead though, and a momentous 6-0 run just under the ten-minute mark would give them their largest lead of the second half at 8 points. An aggressive baseline drive from Austin Fadal and a left-handed post move from center Dillon Iyawe would help give SSU a 51-43 lead. Out of the Otters timeout, they would catch the Seawolves defense napping and go on another clutch scoring run, scoring 7 straight points to cut the deficit to just one. After a pair of free throws from Fadal, two possessions later the Otters would force another second half turnover and connect on a three ball to tie things up at 53. 
 
Just two minutes later, Monterey Bay would capitalize on a split pair of free throws from Sonoma State and make back-to-back buckets to take a three-point lead. Their three-point advantage would go down as their biggest lead of the entire game. With plenty of time on the clock still, the Seawolves would force a stop and then get an acrobatic finish from Austin Fadal, plus the foul, for a chance at a three-point play. Fadal would hit a beautiful floater in the lane and take the contact, he would head to the line for a chance to tie the game. 
 
After much anticipation and an Otter timeout before the free throw, Fadal would be strong on his and-1 attempt and a rebound by Monterey Bay would force SSU to foul. The Otters would go on to hit both free throws to extend their lead back to three. Back on the other end with just under 20 seconds remaining, Wells would draw a personal on a take to the hoop, but the double bonus would send him to the line. Head coach Rich Shayewitz and Wells elected to hit both free throws and foul again. The lead was back down to one but once again, the Otters would make their free throws again, giving them another three-point lead with just 7 seconds remaining. 
 
After an SSU timeout, the Seawolves would inbound the ball to big man Dillon Iyawe near midcourt who found the dribble handoff to Fadal. Fadal would pull up for a contested look from the left wing but his shot would come off the front rim as time expired, giving the Otters the late game comeback win, 61-58. Monterey Bay would hold a lead in the contest for just four and a half minutes but were able to hit four huge free throws and force a trio of turnovers in the final minutes of regulation.      
 
Wells would finish as the high point man once again, recording 26 points on 50% shooting. Fadal would follow with 7 second half points, giving him 12 on the night. Dillon Iyawe finished with 7 points and second year member Rafael Gomez would come off the bench and record a season high 6 points on 3-5 shooting. Forward Pierce Rexford would have himself a career night on the glass, finishing with a game high 9 rebounds and 5 points.  
 
BY THE NUMBERS:
 
Not characteristically known as a three-point shooting team, the Seawolves were still 0-4 from downtown in the second half and made just one three ball all night. SSU did outscore Monterey Bay 10-3 from the stripe in the first half, but they would miss some costly free throws in the second and shoot 47% compared to 77% in the first. 
 
The Otters made just 3 three balls on the night as well but were 7-10 from the line in the second half, including four big ones in the final minute of the game. They also forced 8 turnovers each half for the Seawolves and were able to score 14 points off those turnovers. Monterey also outscored SSU's bench 15-6 in the contest. 
 
LOOK AHEAD: 
 
Sonoma State falls to 8-11 overall and 7-6 in CCAA play after back-to-back late defeats against Cal Poly Pomona and Monterey Bay. The Seawolves will look to turn the page quickly with one of their biggest games of the season against SF State on Saturday, January 28^th. This Saturday is also Pack the Den night for both the men's and women's basketball teams so tip-off is slated for 5:30/7:30 PM. Live stats, stream, and ticket links can all be found at sonomaseawolves.com on the men's basketball schedule page. As always you can stream the game LIVE on the CCAA Network. 

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