Box Score Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific men's basketball team opened up the 2011-12 season with a 75-63 win over California State University Monterey Bay. The Tigers begin the season 1-0, while the Otters start out 0-1.
After CSUMB took an early 6-3 lead, junior Colin Beatty sank a three-pointer with 15:33 left on the clock to give the Tigers their first lead of the night at 8-6, capping off a 5-1 run from the floor. After the Otters tied it at 8-8 with a deep jumper, sophomore Khalil Kelley started a 7-0 rally to give the Tigers a 15-8 lead that Pacific would not relinquish. The Otters countered with a 6-0 stretch to bring CSUMB to within one (15-14) with 10:43 remaining in the half. Junior Markus Duran extended Pacific's lead, putting the Tigers up by four with a three from just behind the arc to make it 18-14 with 10:28 left on the clock. After the rival teams exchanged baskets, junior Rodrigo De Souza landed a three-pointer that ignited a 16-0 Pacific run to make it 38-20. The Tigers held CSUMB scoreless for 5:13 while scoring 12 of their 16 points off of three-pointers, with two treys from Beatty. Junior Andrew Bock scored six of Pacific's final nine points in the half as the Tigers took a 21-point lead (47-26) before the Otters' J.J. Campbell hit a three to make it 47-29 at the break.
In the opening seconds of the second half, De Souza broke away with a steal to give the Tigers a 20 point advantage at 49-29. CSUMB came to life in the first part of the second half, using a 14-6 run to come within 11 with 13:50 left in the game, but it wasn't enough for the Otters. Pacific extended their lead back to 20 points (65-45) with 7:27 to play and held off CSUMB after an 11-4 run to finish with a 12 point win.
Pacific finished the game with three players scoring in double digits, led by Beatty with 14 points and six rebounds. Bock followed with 13 points and three assists, while De Souza posted 11 points with three steals. The bench proved to be extremely effective for the Tigers, as 13 players saw time on the floor and combined to score 35 points.
CSU Monterey Bay was led by juniors Kevin Loustale and Brandon Ward, each with 13 points for the night.
The Tigers are next in action on the road at Nevada on Thursday, November 17 at 7:00 pm. Listen live at
www.pacifictigers.com!
