POMONA, Calif. – Needing a win to move into first place, the Cal State San Marcos men’s basketball team went on the road to defeat the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos, 69-64, in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play on Tuesday night at Kellogg Arena.
With just seven points through the first 20 minutes of play, the CCAA leading scorer, Ethan Alvano, turned it on in the second half scoring 14 points including the eventual game-winning 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in regulation. He went 4-of-8 from the field in the second half and played in all 20 minutes to pace the Cougars.
The win is the fourth consecutive for CSUSM and the seventh in its last eight games as the Cougars improve to 18-4 overall and 13-3 in CCAA action. CPP falls to 16-5, 13-4 CCAA. CSUSM is now 8-1 on the road following the win.
Head Coach BJ Foster talks postgame about his teams huge road win tonight over Cal Poly Pomona as the Cougars move into First-place of the CCAA standings! – CSUSM Men’s Hoops (@CSUSM_MBB) February 7, 2018A CPP layup by William Christmas gave the Broncos a 60-57 lead with 3:47 left to play in the second half. This would be the final Bronco lead of the game.
CSUSM outscored the Broncos, 11-4, in the final 1:02 to close out regulation.
Senior Josh Spiers scored 14 points and tallied seven rebounds. Junior Bear Henderson finished with 12 points, 10 in the first half, and three rebounds. Senior Joe Boyd grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Cougars won the rebound battle, 40-35, despite being outrebounded 10-7 on the offensive glass by CPP.
CPP came into the night leading the CCAA in holding their opponents to just 61.3 points per game.
CSUSM, competing in its first full year of NCAA Division II candidacy, is eligible for playoffs for the first time and is searching for its first CCAA conference championship in school history with just six games remaining.
A rematch between these two teams is just four days away as these two teams clash in San Marcos on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. The first 250 fans in attendance will receive a Free CSUSM Tukwut Towel.
The Cougars return back to The Sports Center to take on CCAA opponent Cal State San Bernardino on Friday, Feb. 9. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.
