SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team continued its climb up the CCAA table with an impressive 71–60 win over No. 13 ranked UC San Diego Saturday night in The Kelp Bed. The win lifts CSUMB to 5–4 and sixth place in conference play (7–8 overall).

UCSD, which would have owned sole possession of first place with a win, dropped to and 8–2 (13–3 overall).

It was CSUMB's first win over a nationally–ranked opponent this season and first since a 60–57 win at Cal Poly Pomona on Feb. 6, 2014. It's the fourth time the Otters defeated a nationally–ranked foe under Head Coach Rob Bishop. 

"Best win of the year for us bar none," said Bishop. "To beat the best team in our league and go wire to wire without the services of two starters showed how much character this team has.

"Our focus and intensity were the best they have been all season and I could not be more proud of this team."

Senior swingman Ryan Nitz (Rancho Cucamonga/Chaffey College) capped a career–weekend by scoring a career–high 31 points. He scored 29 points—his previous career high—in Friday night's win over San Bernardino.

Although Nitz had a huge game, several role players stepped up big in the absence of starters Evan Zeller and Mateo Jones, who missed the game due to injury. Freshman Julien Ducree (Rancho Cucamonga HS) came off the bench to grab a game–high 11 rebounds in just 19 minutes. Senior guard Devin Murphy (Sacramento/Sierra College) played a career–high 34 minutes in place of Jones and responded with 10 points, five rebounds and two each of assists, blocks and steals.

The Otters punched the Tritons in the mouth with runs of 14–0 and 22–2 to open the game. UCSD took those shots and rallied to trim the Otter lead to 37–26 by halftime. The Tritons got to within eight points twice in the second half with time to complete a comeback, but the Otters responded to each challenge and never let UCSD hold the ball within two possessions of the lead.

The Otters hit the road to the other Bay area next week when they play at Sonoma State and San Francisco State Jan. 22–23. They return home to host Cal State East Bay on Tuesday, Jan. 26.