College men's basketball: Otters set school record for wins

Cal State Monterey Bay clinches tournament spot with victory over Chico State

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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The Cal State Monterey Bay Otters men's basketball team set a new school record for wins in a single season with their 70-54 victory over Chico State on Saturday. The win clinched a spot for the Otters in the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, where they will face tournament host Cal Poly, Pomona as the fourth seed.

Why it matters

The Otters' record-setting season marks a significant turnaround for the program, which managed just six wins last year. Their tournament appearance will be the first in 10 years, showcasing the team's impressive progress and growth under head coach Isaac Williams.

The details

The Otters were led by Michael Mora's 16 points, while Jaden Tengan and Joey Bilello each added 11 points. Chol Deng pulled down 14 rebounds, and Mezziah Oakman recorded 11 boards and two blocks. The Otters swept the season series against tournament opponent Cal Poly, Pomona, winning 79-75 on the road and 97-80 at home.

  • The Otters clinched the new school record for wins in Division II with 17 on Saturday, March 1, 2026.
  • The Otters will face Cal Poly, Pomona in the first round of the CCAA tournament on Thursday.

The players

Isaac Williams

The head coach of the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters men's basketball team.

Michael Mora

The leading scorer for the Otters, averaging 17.4 points per game in the conference.

Jaden Tengan

An Otters player who finished the season averaging 17 points per game.

Joey Bilello

An Otters player who scored 11 points in the win over Chico State.

Chol Deng

An Otters player who pulled down 14 rebounds in the win over Chico State.

Mezziah Oakman

An Otters player who recorded 11 rebounds and two blocks in the win over Chico State.

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What they’re saying

“There was some discussion coming into the week about being the team to set the school record. It was important to them. I won't have any trouble getting these kids to watch film this week.”

— Isaac Williams, Head Coach (fresnobee.com)

“I don't think there will be a team more excited about playing basketball than ours. They're just excited to keep going and less concerned about the opponent. This group loves work and the process.”

— Isaac Williams, Head Coach (fresnobee.com)

“We defended well and our ball movement was good against Pomona. We were able to create some open shots and made them.”

— Isaac Williams, Head Coach (fresnobee.com)

What’s next

The Otters will face tournament host Cal Poly, Pomona on Thursday in the first round of the CCAA tournament.

The takeaway

The Otters' record-setting season and first conference tournament appearance in 10 years showcase the impressive turnaround and growth of the program under coach Isaac Williams. Their tournament matchup against Cal Poly, Pomona, a team they have already beaten twice this season, has the Otters excited to keep their successful season going.