SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men’s basketball team (4-0) pummeled No. 24/9 Point Loma (2-2) by a score of 90-52 in the Cougars’ Homecoming game at The Sports Center on Saturday night.
TOP PERFORMERS
Tyrone Nesby IV – 19 points | 6-of-13 FG | 6-of-6 FT | 2 steals
Jayce McCain – 17 points | 7-of-9 FG | 3 assists | 3 steals
Greg Milton III – 16 points | 5-of-9 FG | 4 assists | 4 rebounds
Blake Seits – 13 points | 5 rebounds
Alex Gil-Fernandez – 10 points | 7 rebounds | 5 assists
HOW IT HAPPENED
Up 21-20 with 10:34 to go in the first half, CSUSM went on an 18-2 run to make it 39-22 with 3:23 remaining after a McCain layup.
The Cougars ended the half on an 11-6 run to go into the locker room with a 50-28 lead over the Sea Lions.
CSUSM ended the half shooting 52.9% (18-of-34) while PLNU shot 42.9% (12-of-28) from the field and an abysmal 15.4% (2-of-13) from three.
The Sea Lions committed 11 turnovers in the first 20 minutes, allowing the Cougars to capitalize with 16 points off those turnovers.
After PLNU’s Hugh Baxter made it a 20-point game with the first basket of the second half at 50-30, the Sea Lions never got any closer to the Cougars’ insurmountable lead.
A 3-pointer by Chase Bowsher from the corner with 1:26 to play made it a 40-point game at 90-50.
CSUSM ended the game with a 90-52 win over PLNU.
FAST BREAKS
PLNU is the highest-ranked team CSUSM has ever defeated in the Division II era (2015-present) with a ranking of No. 9 in the D2SIDA Media Poll. CSUSM previously defeated No. 18 UC San Diego by a score of 72-67 in 2016-17 and No. 13 UCSD by a score of 78-72 in 2015-16.
The win was CSUSM’s first over a ranked team inside The Sports Center since it’s opening in 2016.
The Cougars’ 38-point margin of victory was its largest-ever against an NCAA Division II institution, and it was their largest since defeating West Coast Baptist by 50 in 2017-18.
PLNU was ranked No. 1 in the D2SIDA West Region Poll.
This marks the first time in the NCAA Division II era the Cougars have opened a season 4-0 with the last time occurring in the 2013-14 season.
The Cougars’ two turnovers were their fewest in program history as the Sea Lions ended up with 18.
CSUSM last put up 90-plus in regulation against Cal State Monterey Bay in 2019-20 when the Cougars scored 91.
The Cougars’ 16 assists were their most this season.
CSUSM ended the game shooting 47.7% (31-of-65) while PLNU came in at 40% (24-of-60).
The Sea Lions went 0-of-11 from three in the second half, finishing the night 2-of-24 (8.3%).
CSUSM had a 9-1 advantage for steals while PLNU won the battle of the boards at 38-33.
The Cougars scored 25 points off turnovers while the Sea Lions scored just two.
CSUSM held the lead for 38:11 while PLNU only had the lead for 26 seconds.
Seits entered CSUSM’s top five for most career 3-pointers and is now tied with Jose Rivera for fifth with 92.
Jayce McCain’s 72 career steals are now tied with Blake Nash for the fourth most in program history.
Head Coach BJ Foster recaps the Cougars’ 90-52 win over No. 24/9 Point Loma on CSUSM’s Homecoming night. #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/LEXe0vO9Lj
– CSUSM Men’s Basketball (@CSUSM_MBB) November 21, 2021
UP NEXT
The Cougars will open CCAA play against Cal State LA on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. in The Sports Center.
