SEASIDE, Calif. — Otter fans got their money's worth Saturday night as the Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team took an entertaining 65–64 win from San Francisco State in The Kelp Bed to close a 4–game homestand.

Evan Zeller (Mission Viejo HS) led the team in scoring again—this time with 17 points—but he was far from a 1–man show. Senior swingman Ryan Nitz (Rancho Cucamonga/Chaffey College) chipped in his first collegiate double–double with 14 points and a career–high 12 rebounds. Senior guard Alex Fertig (Fresno/Buchanan HS) nearly recorded his first double–double as well, adding nine points to a career–high 10 rebounds.

SFSU jumped out to an early 7–point lead before the Otters battled back to force six lead changes in the two minutes surrounding halftime. The Otters led for most of the second half—extending their leading to a many as nine at 48–39 nine minutes into the period—before the Gators rallied a final time.

A pair of Damien Rance free throws capped an 8–0 surge that gave SFSU its final lead at 55–53 with 4:27 remaining. But Zeller responded with a 3–pointer to put the Otters back on top. His fourth trey of the night extended the Otter lead to 64–58 with 32 seconds to play before two 3–pointers in the final 10 seconds, including one at the buzzer, turned the final into a 1–point affair.

The Otters head to Southern California for their next two games, beginning Thursday at Cal State Dominguez Hills. They return home to host Cal State San Bernardino on Jan. 15.