No. 4/5 CSUSM Moves to 13-0 with Overtime Win at Cal Poly Pomona
1/20/2022 | Men’s Basketball | Box Score
POMONA, Calif. – The No. 4/5 Cal State San Marcos men’s basketball team (13-0, 9-0 CCAA) kept its perfect season alive with a 62-52 overtime win at Cal Poly Pomona (7-5, 3-5 CCAA) on Thursday night at Kellogg Arena.
TOP PERFORMERS
Joel Mensah – 19 points | 9-of-12 FG | 4 rebounds
Blake Seits – 18 points | 7 rebounds
Jayce McCain – 10 points | 10 rebounds
Greg Milton III – 8 rebounds | 5 points | 2 assists
HOW IT HAPPENED
After CPP’s Dane Erikstrup made a 3-pointer to begin the Broncos’ scoring, CSUSM scored six unanswered point to take an 8-3 lead with 15:25 left in the half.
The Broncos retook the lead at 10:53 with a 7-1 run to put them up 10-9.
Both teams stayed within a basket of each other until two good free throws by McCain gave CSUSM a 23-19 lead with 2:25 to go.
The Cougars took their largest lead of the half at 25-19 as Mensah got a layup to go with 1:55 remaining.
CSUSM went to the locker room with a 27-23 lead behind Mensah’s game-high 12 points (6-of-7), matching his season high.
The Cougars shot 42.9% (12-of-28) from the field in the first 20 minutes but went 0-of-9 from beyond the arc. The Broncos ended the half shooting 34.6% (9-of-26).
All but five of CSUSM’s first-half points came in the paint.
The Broncos busted out of the gate to begin the second half with a 20-4 run that gave them their largest lead of the night at 43-33 with 11:22 left in the second period.
From that point, the Cougars played chip away with a 17-7 run of their own and finally tied the game at 50-all on a layup from Mensah with 1:19 remaining.
CPP missed its final two field goal attempts of the half at the 45-second mark and the two-second mark, sending the game to overtime.
It was all CSUSM in the extra five minutes of play as the Cougars outscored the Broncos 12-2. CPP never made a field goal and saw its lone two points come on free throws.
Seits came alive in the extra period, shooting 3-of-3 with two 3 pointers.
From the 2:28 mark in the second half, CSUSM ended the game on a 16-2 run.
The Cougars concluded the game shooting 42.3% (22-of-52) while holding the Broncos to 34.4% (21-of-61).
FAST BREAKS
CSUSM’s 13 consecutive wins are the second-most in program history and most as a Division II member. The Cougars had 23 straight victories during the 2013-14 season.
This was the Cougars’ second consecutive game with an overtime win - a first for the program.
With 11 games remaining after tonight, the Cougars are now guaranteed to finish the regular season with a winning record for the first time since 2017-18.
The win snapped a five-game losing streak against the Broncos, and it was the Cougars’ first since Feb. 6, 2018 in Pomona.
CSUSM is now 4-6 in the all-time series against CPP and is 3-3 when playing on the road.
The Broncos’ 52 points were the lowest scored in 10 meetings with the Cougars.
This was the second consecutive contest between CSUSM and CPP to go to overtime.
The Cougars committed more turnovers than their opponent for the first time this season at 16-15, and it was the second-most turnovers by CSUSM this season.
CPP’s 21 fouls were the most by a CSUSM opponent this season while its 42.9% (6-of-14) free-throw performance was the worst.
This was CSUSM’s eighth double-digit win of the year.
Mensah’s 19 points and nine made field goals were a career high.
McCain’s double-double was the second by a Cougar this season while his 10 rebounds were a career high.
Milton’s eight rebounds tied his career high for the fourth-time this season.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will have another tough test on Saturday as they travel to No. 5/10 Cal State San Bernardino (13-1, 7-1 CCAA) for a 3 p.m. tipoff.
