SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men’s basketball team cruised to an 83-56 victory over second-place Cal State East Bay in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play on Thursday night at The Sports Center.
TOP PERFORMERS
Marcus Brown – 22 points | 4 rebounds | 8-of-13 FG
Blake Seits – 16 points | 3 rebounds | 2 steals
Jayce McCain – 14 points | 5 rebounds | 3 assists | 2 steals
Khalil Fuller – 11 points | 10 rebounds | 2 assists | 2 blocked shots
HOW IT HAPPENED •CSUSM began the game with a 14-2 run as the Cougars drained four baskets from beyond the arc.
•With 12:08 remaining in the half, Fuller hit the first of two free throws to give the Cougars a 14-point lead at 18-4.
•The Pioneers cut the Cougars’ first-half lead to 25-21 at the 5:01 mark with a 10-2 run capped off by an Ant Navarrete layup.
•The Cougars proceeded to go on a 12-0 run and take a 37-21 on a McCain jumper with 1:10 remaining in the period.
•CSUSM went to the locker room with a 37-25 lead after shooting 46.7% (14-of-30) from the field and holding CSUEB to 34.5% (10-of-29).
•Brown led all players with 14 points at the break as he went 5-of-6 from the field and 3-of-3 from downtown in the first half.
•The Pioneers brought the Cougars’ lead down to seven points at 45-38 with 15:20 to play in the game.
•A 7-0 run by the Cougars put them back up by 14 at 52-38 with 12:53 to play after Darae Elliott made both free throws.
•CSUEB made a final run by bringing the deficit down to 10 points at 59-49 with 7:09 to go as Zafir Williams drained both of his attempts from the charity stripe.
•The Cougars held the Pioneers at bay for the remainder of the game by outscoring them 24-7 over the final 6:48 of the game.
•CSUSM concluded the game shooting 50% (31-of-62) from the field while holding CSUEB to 36.8% (21-of-57).
FAST BREAKS •CSUSM improves to 6-7 (2-5 CCAA) while CSUEB drops to 9-5 (5-3 CCAA).
•The Cougars’ 27-point win was its largest-ever margin of victory over the Pioneers.
•CSUSM is now 5-0 at home against CSUEB and are 8-1 in the all-time series.
•The Cougars never allowed a Pioneer lead as CSUSM led for 39:19.
•Brown’s 22 points were a season high.
•The Cougars’ 41 rebounds tied for their second most of the season.
•This was Fuller’s second consecutive double-double performance and fifth of the season.
Redshirt freshman Jayce McCain talks about keeping the momentum moving into the Cougars next games. #BleedBlue #GoCCAA #NCAAD2 pic.twitter.com/l6osLZ8G3P
– CSUSM Men’s Basketball (@CSUSM_MBB) January 3, 2020
Head Coach BJ Foster discusses the team’s focus leading up to tonight’s win over @CSUEBBasketball and playing hard the full game. #BleedBlue #GoCCAA #NCAAD2 pic.twitter.com/U2I7N8tDoM
– CSUSM Men’s Basketball (@CSUSM_MBB) January 3, 2020
UP NEXT
CSUSM returns to The Sports Center on Saturday as it faces Cal State Monterey Bay at 3 p.m.
