This Week in Cougar Athletics: Feb. 12-18
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men’s and women’s basketball teams make their final regular season road trip while the Cougars’ baseball team makes its 2018 home debut with a three-game series against Concordia-Portland beginning on Saturday. The CSUSM softball team continues California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play with a road series against No. 21 Chico State beginning on Friday, Feb. 16.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Feb. 15 – 5:30 p.m.
CSUSM (7-15, 7-11 CCAA) at Humboldt State (13-10, 12-6 CCAA)
Arcata, Calif. – Lumberjack Arena
Live Stats | Live Video | Audio
Saturday, Feb. 17 – 5:30 p.m.
CSUSM at Chico State (13-9, 11-7 CCAA)
Chico, Calif. – Art Acker Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video
HUMBOLDT STATE •CSUSM is 3-3 all-time against the Lumberjacks.
•In a balanced effort with five Cougars scoring seven or more points, the Cougars defeated the Jacks, 68-63, on Jan. 6 in The Sports Center. CSUSM shot a season-best 48.9 percent from the field and made 17-of-19 (89.5) free throws.
•HSU saw its three-game win streak snapped with a 51-50 overtime loss at Stanislaus State on Saturday, Feb. 10.
•The Jacks are solid at the free throw line, ranking second in the CCAA with a 77.9 average (307-of-394).
•Tyla Turner ranks No. 4 in the CCAA with a 17.2 points per game average.
CHICO STATE •CSUSM is 3-2 all-time against the Wildcats.
•The Cougars saw their 34-27 halftime lead dwindle away, falling 71-66 to the Wildcats on Jan. 5. Senior Raegan Lillie notched a team-high 16 points.
•Chico State enters the weekend on a three-game win streak and will play CCAA regular season champion UC San Diego on Thursday.
•The Wildcats are averaging a CCAA second best 69.5 points per game with CCAA scoring leader Whitney Branham leading the way with an 18.6 points per game average.
CSUSM BREAKDOWN •The Cougars dropped three CCAA games this past week, dropping a 77-51 decision to Cal Poly Pomona before falling to visiting Cal State San Bernardino (73-66) and CPP (72-68) at The Sports Center.
•CSUSM is fighting for a spot in the eight-team CCAA basketball tournament. The Cougars are in a three-way tie for ninth place with Sonoma State and Stanislaus State. All three teams are a half a game back from eighth place Cal State San Bernardino.
•CSUSM ranks 18th in the CCAA in 3-point field goal percentage, holding opponents to a 26.8 percantage.
•After recording 27 and 25 points this weekend, Camp has moved into the No. 2 spot in CCAA scoring with an 18.2 points per game average.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Feb. 15 – 7:30 p.m.
CSUSM (18-6, 13-5 CCAA) at Humboldt State (9-15,6-12 CCAA)
Arcata, Calif. – Lumberjack Arena
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Saturday, Feb. 17 – 7:30 p.m.
CSUSM (18-6, 13-5 CCAA) at Chico State (16-6, 13-5 CCAA)
Chico, Calif. – Acker Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
HUMBOLDT STATE •CSUSM is 2-3 all-time against the Lumberjacks.
•Earlier this season, HSU defeated the Cougars, 81-78, in San Marcos on Jan. 6. Senior Brian Wright scored a CSUSM career-high 24 points.
•The Jacks have won three consecutive games including an 81-78 road win over Stanislaus State in their last contest.
•Tyras Rattler Jr is the team’s leading scorer with 12.4 points per game. HSU is tied for second in the CCAA in defensive rebounds (27.0), third in offensive rebounds (11.6) and fourth in rebounding margin (2.0).
CHICO STATE •The Cougars are 2-3 all-time against the Wildcats, including back-to-back wins.
•In the last meeting, CSUSM defeated Chico, 65-47, at home on Jan. 5. Senior Ethan Alvano finished with 17 points and six rebounds.
•The Wildcats had won seven consecutive games before falling on the road to Stanislaus State, 88-78, this past Thursday. Chico and CSUSM are part of a three-way tie with UC San Diego for second place in the CCAA standings.
•The Wildcats rank near the top of the CCAA in multiple categories including first in offensive rebounds (11.9), rebounding margin (7.8) and tied for first (with CSUSM) in scoring margin (8.7). Chico also ranks first in the conference in average attendance per home game (998.0).
CSUSM BREAKDOWN •The Cougars went 1-2 last week in CCAA play.
•CSUSM continues to lead the CCAA in multiple categories including scoring (80.8), 3-point field goal percentage (39.9), free throw percentage (75.5), and assist/turnover ratio (1.31).
•Senior Ethan Alvano is the conference leader in scoring (21.7), assists (5.8), steals (2.5) and minutes (35.3). He also ranks sixth in the nation with 60 total steals and his 2.5 steals per game rank him seventh in the country.
•The Cougars are ranked fifth in the latest D2SIDA West Region Men’s Basketball Poll. The first official NCAA Regional Rankings of the season will be released on Wednesday, Feb. 14.
SOFTBALL
Friday, Feb. 16 – Noon (DH)
Saturday, Feb. 17 – 11 a.m. (DH)
CSUSM (2-4, 1-3 CCAA) at No. 21 Chico State (9-0, 4-0 CCAA)
Chico, Calif. | Wildcat Softball Field
NO. 21 CHICO STATE •CSUSM is 5-5 all-time against the Wildcats.
•The Cougars recorded a 5-0 series finale victory over then-No. 13 Chico State last season after dropping the first three-games (6-0, 4-3, 1-0).
•The Wildcats opened CCAA play with a four-game series sweep at Cal State San Bernardino by scores of 4-0, 4-3, 9-1 and 8-0.
•Chico State was picked to finish second in the 2018 CCAA Softball preseason coaches poll.
CSUSM BREAKDOWN •The Cougars began CCAA play with a 1-3 series against visiting San Francisco State. CSUSM dropped both ends of Friday’s doubleheader, 10-3 and 9-8, before posting a come-from-behind 10-8 victory in Saturday’s twinbill opener. The Cougar rally in the series finale fell short at 9-5.
•CSUSM offense is getting off to a strong start in 2018, ranking second in the CCAA with a .335 batting average.
•Freshman Jaqlyn Newhouser is No. 3 in the CCAA with a .533 batting average after going 8-for-15 in the first six games.
•In the 2018 CCAA softball preseason poll, the Cougars were picked to finish 10th.
BASEBALL
Saturday, Feb. 17 – 11 a.m. (DH)*
Sunday, Feb. 18 – 11 a.m.
CSUSM (2-1) vs. Concordia-Portland (Ore.) (0-4)
San Marcos, Calif. | CSUSM Baseball Field
Live Stats | Cougar Sports Network
*Free CSUSM water bottle to the first 100 fans in attendance on Saturday
CONCORDIA-PORTLAND •The Cougars are 1-0 all-time against the Cavaliers. This is the first matchup since March 28, 2011.
•The Cavaliers were swept in a four-game series against NAIA No. 1 Lewis-Clark State College to start the season.
•Andrew Barrera leads the team in batting average (.412) and hits (7) while Tyler Charlton leads the team in era with a 1.29 in a team leading seven innings pitched this season.
•The Cavaliers went 15-35 last season and compete in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).
CSUSM BREAKDOWN •After dropping the season opener, the Cougars responded by defeating Concordia-Irvine in both games of a doubleheader last Saturday, 2-1 and 9-5.
•Junior Troy Lamparello pitched 7.2 innings giving up no runs on two hits while striking out eight in his Cougar debut in the teams 2-1 win over the Eagles.
•Junior Cabot Van Til leads the team in runs (4), hits (6), total bases (10) and stolen bases (1).
•The Cougars lead the CCAA in fielding percentage (.989) and are seventh in batting average (.281) and era (5.63).
