SAN FRANCISCO – Leading wire-to-wire, the No. 23/18 Cal State San Marcos men’s basketball team (9-0, 5-0 CCAA) cruised its way to an 89-55 win at San Francisco State (4-6, 2-2 CCAA) on Saturday afternoon.
TOP PERFORMERS
Greg Milton III – 18 points | 7 rebounds | 3 assists
Alex Gil-Fernandez – 12 points | 5-of-5 FG | 6 rebounds
Blake Seits – 10 points | 9 rebounds | 4 assists
Tyrone Nesby IV – 10 points | 3-of-5 3FG | 2 rebounds
HOW IT HAPPENED
A Gil-Fernandez driving layup gave CSUSM its first double-digit lead of the game at 18-7 with 14:18 remaining in the first half.
CSUSM took a 20-point lead at 45-25 as Nesby drained a 3-pointer with 1:46 to go in the half.
The Cougars ended the first half on a 10-0 run.
CSUSM went into the locker room with a big 51-25 lead after shooting 59.4% (19-of-32) from the field and 53.3% (8-of-15) from the 3-point line.
The Cougars’ defense held the Gators to 33.3% (9-of-27) from the floor and 20% (3-of-15) from beyond the arc.
Milton led all scorers with 12 points in the first half.
CSUSM kept its foot on the gas to begin the second half as the first of two free throws by Milton put the Cougars up by 30 at 57-27 with 17:37 remaining.
A 3-pointer by Seits with 3:45 to play gave CSUSM a 40-point lead at 89-49.
The Gators brought the deficit back down to 34 to end the game with a 6-0 run over the final two minutes.
CSUSM shot 50% (15-of-30) from the field in the second half while the SF State posted another half of 33.3% (10-of-30).
FAST BREAKS
At 9-0, CSUSM is now just one win shy of matching its best start in program history. The Cougars went 10-0 to begin 2014-15 – its last season in NAIA before joining NCAA Division II.
With a 5-0 record to begin conference play, the Cougars are off to their best-ever start in CCAA action.
CSUSM set season highs for field goals made (34), field-goal percentage (54.8%), 3-point field goals made (14), 3-point field-goal percentage (48.3%), assists (20) and blocked shots (4).
No Gator scored more than nine points.
SF State’s 14.8% performance from beyond the arc was the worst by a CSUSM opponent this season as it finished the day 4-of-27.
The Gators’ 28 total rebounds were the fewest against the Cougars this season.
This was the Cougars’ third win of 30-plus points this season – its most in the Division II era.
The last time CSUSM scored 51 points in the first half was on Feb. 24, 2018, against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
The Cougars are one of 11 teams left in Division II without a loss this season, including CCAA foe Chico State.
UP NEXT
CSUSM will look to match its best start in program history as the Cougars head to Huntington Beach to face Westcliff on the campus of Golden West College on Sunday, Dec. 19. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
