TURLOCK — The Warriors weren't going to let what happend at the Kelp Bed in December repeat itself. Especially not on home court, in front of the largest crowd of the season.

However, a late Stanislaus rally was rejected by Cal State Monterey Bay as the Warriors were handed another defeat — this time a 66-65 heartbreaker in front of nearly 1,500 vocal fans on Homecoming night.

With the ball, trailing by one in the final possession, a Kyi Thomas dribble drive layup attempt was blocked by Ryan Nitz and the Otters controlled the rebound to stole away the game at Fitzpatrick Arena.

Four Warriors were in double figures in scoring, but it wasn't quite enough as Stan State dropped its eighth straight game to fall to 5-13 and 4-9 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

Monterey Bay, winner of three straight, improved to 10-10 overall and 8-6 in the CCAA tied for fifth place.

Christian Bayne had 17 points to lead the Warriors with Alek Carlson and Stephen Evans each scored 11 points. Joey Bennett had 10 points to chip in. Kyle Gouveia pulled 13 rebounds to help Stanislaus out-rebound CSUMB, 43-33.

But the Otters got 25 points from Nitz, who made five three-pointers and took 23 shots (he made nine). 

Evans' three pointer just before halftime gave the Warriors their biggest lead on the night at 37-31 to cap a 9-0 run with three consecutive triples (Carlson and Bennett had the other two). However, the Otters started the second half with a 7-0 run. And with 10:00 to go, Monterey Bay took off on a 15-3 surge to take a 59-50 lead with 5:54 left to play.

That's when the Warriors rallied. A 15-5 run capped by a Thomas jumper at :40 to play swung the lead back in favor of the home team. But Devin Murphy quickly answered with a baseline jumper before the final Stanislaus offensive possession.

Back on Dec. 11 in Seaside, the Warriors were ran out of the building they called the Kelp Bed in a 86-56 loss.

Saturday night, Stan State will try again to end the skid as the Warriors host Cal State East Bay on Hall of Fame night. The Hall of Fame induction class includes the 1982 Men's Basketball Team which went to the Division III Final Four as well as Stanislaus' scoring leader George White, who netted 805 points in one season in 1968-69.