BOX SCORE

CHICO, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team got off to a sizzling start, but the short–handed Otters couldn't sustain their early flow as Chico State stormed back to take an 81-64 decision Friday night in Acker Gym.

CSUMB (7-11, 3-8 CCAA) made nine of its first 12 from the field to open a 25-17 lead well into the first half. But ,as has been an issue all season, the Otters gave up a big run to their opponent late in the period to let control of the game slip from their grasp.

Chico ended the first half on a 24-4 run to turn CSUMB's 25-18 lead into a 41-29 deficit at the half. It was still a 10-point game at 49-39 five minutes into the second half when Chico State went on a 12-2 run to take its first 20-point lead at 61-41.

The Otters wouldn't get closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

Freshman guard Alex Fertig (Fresno/Buchanan HS) scored 12 of his team-high 14 points in the first half. Senior guard Brandon Ward (Riverside/Woodcrest HS) added 11 points as he climbed to within 14 points of the CSUMB all–time scoring record (1,075 points).

Rashad Parker led five players in double figures with 18 points for Chico (9-6, 6-5).

CSUMB will look to bounce back into the win column when it concludes its two-game roadtrip at Cal State Stanislaus Saturday night. The Otters return home to host San Francisco State Feb. 1 in The Kelp Bed.