CHICO, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay men's basketball team just missed a second win over a nationally ranked opponent this season when No. 14 Chico State rallied from 12 points down in the final 10 minutes to pull out a 72–68 win Saturday night in Acker Gym.

Junior guard Evan Zeller (Mission Viejo HS) scored 15 of his game–high 23 points in the first half to help the Otters lead for much of that period. Ryan Nitz (Rancho Cucamonga HS) and Mateo Jones (Victorville/Silverado HS) added 14 points apiece.

Jalen McFerren led Chico (18–3, 12–2 CCAA) with 22 points.

"Tonight was the best college basketball game I have been involved with in years. What a game," said CSUMB Head Coach Rob Bishop. "I'm so how proud of how we played tonight. Both teams played really hard, Chico Just made a couple more plays down the stretch. Hopefully we will get a chance to see them in Stockton (at the CCAA Tournament)."

CSUMB (10–11, 8–7) led more than it trailed in this one. But just when it seemed that a Nitz 3–pointer capping a 17–2 run had given the Otters control with a 57–45 lead, Chico roared back with a 16–0 run of its own to go up 61–57.

A Jones steal and fastbreak dunk gave the Otters their final lead at 64–63. They held that advantage until a pair of Robert Duncan layups bookended a 6–0 spurt in the final 1:23 that put the Wildcats on top to stay.

CSUMB continues its 4–game roadtrip next weekend, traveling up and down the state to first meet Cal Poly Pomona (Feb. 11) then Humboldt State (Feb. 13). The Otters return home to host Cal State L.A. Feb. 19 in The Kelp Bed.