SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Leading for all but 50 seconds, the Cal State San Marcos men’s basketball team (12-7, 11-3 CCAA) knocked off CCAA leader No. 12/14 Cal State San Bernardino (15-3, 10-2 CCAA) by a score of 98-85 on Saturday afternoon at The Sports Center.
TOP PERFORMERS
Greg Milton III – 30 points | 9 rebounds | 4 assists | 2 steals
Jayce McCain – 16 points | 3 assists | 3 steals | 2 rebounds
Quinn Denker – 14 points | 5 assists | 4 rebounds
Joel Mensah – 12 points | 5 rebounds
HOW IT HAPPENED
Close early, CSUSM took its first double-digit lead at 16-6 on a Donovan Watkins’ layup with 13:43 to go in the half.
Up 21-11, the Cougars scored 13 consecutive points with six made free throws coming off a common, technical and flagrant foul by the Coyotes’ Brandon Knapper. Mensah made a jumper following the free throws to give CSUSM a 34-11 lead with 10:39 to play.
The Cougars took their largest lead of the game at 24 points following an Edwyn Collins 3-pointer that put CSUSM up 37-13 with 8:55 left in the half.
CSUSM went to the locker room with a 53-32 lead over San Bernardino, shooting 53.1% (17-of-32) compared to the Coyotes’ 33.3% (10-of-30).
Down by 23 at 68-45 with 13:06 to play, CSUSB began to chip away at CSUSM’s lead and brought the deficit down to seven at 70-63 with an 18-2 run at the 8:21 mark.
The Cougars’ lead soon returned to double digits after McCain drained a 3-pointer with 7:25 remaining to make it 75-65.
CSUSM’s lead never dipped below 10 points in the final seven minutes.
FAST BREAKS
Milton tallied his second game of the year with 30 or more points and eighth game with 20-plus points.
The Cougars’ 98 points were the team’s most points in regulation since defeating West Coast Baptist 99-49 at The Sports Center on Nov. 16, 2017.
CSUSM made 27 free throws for the game, tying for the fourth most in team history.
This was CSUSM’s seventh win over a ranked team in the NCAA era (2015-present) and third victory over a ranked team at home.
The Coyotes were the previous ranked team the Cougars defeated as CSUSM knocked off then No. 6/5 CSUSB in the CCAA Championship game last March.
This was CSUSM’s first home win against CSUSB since Nov. 30, 2016 and is now 3-2 when playing at home against the Coyotes.
The Cougars tallied 18 assists to the Yotes’ nine.
CSUSM’s six turnovers were its second fewest of the season while CSUSB committed 11.
The Cougars also racked up eight steals to the Yotes’ three.
CSUSM was 51.7% (31-of-60) from the field while CSUSB came in at 46.8% (29-of-62).
The Cougars are now 8-1 at home this season.
Both of CSUSB’s conference losses have occurred on the road. The first came in a 94-84 defeat on Jan. 12 at Stanislaus State.
Head Coach B.J. Foster recapped the Cougars’ 98-85 win over No. 12/14 Cal State San Bernardino with David Gentile. #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/EedGBizkFA
– CSUSM Men’s Basketball (@CSUSM_MBB) January 29, 2023
UP NEXT
CSUSM will head to Cal State Monterey Bay for 7:30 p.m. tipoff on Thursday.
