ROHNERT PARK, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team continued its best start since the 2008–09 season by knocking Sonoma State from the ranks of the unbeaten Friday night with a 91–82 victory in The Wolves Den. It was the third consecutive win for CSUMB (7–4, 3–2 CCAA), which moves within a game of first place in the early CCAA standings with the win.

Sonoma (7–2, 4–1) drops into a 3–way tie for the CCAA lead with its first conference loss of the season.

"Tonight was a very emotional team win and I cannot be more proud this team," said CSUMB Head Coach Rob Bishop (@Coach_RBishop). "To come in to the league leader's house and get a road win is a great early season confidence builder."

There were heroes aplenty for the Otters, who placed four scorers in double figures for the second consecutive game and the fifth time in 11 outings. Sophomore guard Evan Zeller (Mission Viejo HS) led the way with a game–high 23 points. That effort allowed him to retake the CCAA scoring lead (17.7 ppg) from Sonoma State guard James Davis (17.3 ppg), who managed just 15 Friday night.

Sonoma led by five at the half, 41–36, before Daye Turner (Compton/Centennial HS) singlehandedly leveled the scoreline with a short jumper and a 3–pointer on the first two Otter possessions of the second half. That begat a whirlwind final 18 minutes that saw the teams play through five ties and seven lead changes before the affair was settled.

The Seawolves led by five points, 76–71, with five minutes remaining when the Otters made the decisive thrust. Patrick Lefiti (Bay Point/Los Medanos College) got things started with a transition 3–pointer. A pair of Zeller free throws knotted the game at 78–78. Jorey Scott (Reno, Nev./Miramar College) finished offensive rebounds on the next two Otter possession to help cap a 12–2 run that put the Otters on top to stay, 83–78.

Turner made six consecutive free throws and Zeller added two more at the end with Sonoma in desperation foul mode, allowing the Otters to extend the final margin to nine.

In addition to Zeller, Turner scored a season–high 17 points in his fourth consecutive start. Scott recorded a career–high for the second consecutive game, this time with 12 points. He also led all rebounders with eight boards.

CSUMB will try to eke its momentum rolling Saturday when it heads south on Highway 101 to tackle San Francisco State. The Otters return home to host Cal State L.A. on Jan. 9 in The Kelp Bed.