OtterŐs Have Overtime Thriller
Evan FitzGerald
January 23, 2008
The otters came out strong against CSU Los Angeles (CSULA) and forced the game into three overtimes; however, in the end they fell to the golden eagles 122 to 118.
Two years ago during senior night the otters played the golden eagles in the Kelp Bed, with almost the same results. Down by three points with less then 10 seconds remaining the otters came back on the three point shot of Daryl Anderson, a CSU Monterey Bay alumnus, to force overtime. The otters eventually went on to lose that close game as they did again.
Joe Mitchell, a forward and Business junior started the game well for the otters, dunking the ball for their first two points. From there the otters took control of the game with hot shooting from Augie Johnston, a guard and Business junior, who had 18 points and four rebounds in the first half putting the otters up by three going into the second half.
The otters came out of the gate slow in the second half and had to play catch up against their opponents for much of the rest of the game. They were able to get up by two points with 10 minutes and 30 seconds left on the clock as both teams went back and forth in scoring. It was the lay-up by Dshon Cannon, the point guard and Teledramatic Arts and Technology senior that put the otter ahead by one as he was fouled on the play and able to convert his free throw with two minutes and 39 seconds left. The otters then hit a slump and found themselves down by three with fewer than 10 seconds left after a pair of free throws by CSULA.
Like Daryl Anderson had done two years previous, Steven Becker did again. With time running out he was passed the ball and put up a three point shot. It dropped as time expired, sending the game into overtime. A brief period of pandemonium erupted as the otter fans leaped out of their seats and cheered.
The second overtime began with the otters slightly behind. Juston Willis, a guard and Business senior, hit a huge three pointer to bring the otters even with CSULA. With less than ten seconds left the otters had a chance to win the game, but were not able to make their shots, putting the game into the third overtime.
It was in the third overtime that the otters were not able to put together a run as Augie Johnston had fouled out. At the end not enough shots fell for the otters and they suffered a four point loss.
"We were lucky to go into those overtimes," said Dhson Cannon, who had 37 points and 11 assists on the night, leading the otters in both fields. "We were in foul trouble and we could only do so much," he said.
Though Cannon lead the team in scoring, Johnston had 24 points and Joe Mitchell had 21 points and 13 rebounds. The 118 points were the highest number the otter scored this season, and despite that high number the otters are in last place with a 1-6 conference record.
For more information on otter basketball visit www.otterathletics.com.