SAN MARCOS, Calif. - The Cal State San Marcos men’s basketball team (11-7, 10-3 CCAA) had no trouble improving its winning streak to five games as it led wire-to-wire in a 70-44 victory over Cal Poly Pomona (9-7, 6-6 CCAA) on Thursday night in The Sports Center.
TOP PERFORMERS
Joel Mensah – 19 points | 4 rebounds
Quinn Denker – 14 points | 5 rebounds | 3 assists | 2 steals
Greg Milton III – 10 points | 5 rebounds | 5 assists
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUSM took its first double-digit lead at 17-7 with a 3-pointer by Denker at the 11:33 mark of the first half.
The Cougars held a 32-20 lead at the break over CPP.
CSUSM finished the first half shooting 41.4% (12-of-29) and holding the Broncos’ to just 25% (6-of-24).
In the opening half, CPP went 5-of-11 (45.5%) at the charity stripe while CSUSM went 4-of-7 (57.1).
The Cougars never allowed the Broncos to get the deficit under 14 points in the second half.
CSUSM took its largest lead of the game with 40 seconds remaining as it went up by 28 with Max Lonneker’s jumper and free throw to put the Cougars ahead 70-42.
The Cougars shot 51.7% (15-of-29) in the second half while holding the Broncos to 23.1% (6-of-26).
FAST BREAKS
CSUSM held CPP to just 24% (12-of-50) from the field – the lowest by a CSUSM opponent this season – while the Cougars went 46.6% (27-of-58).
The Cougars’ 40 rebounds were a season high as they topped the Broncos’ 37.
CPP’s 44 points were a season low and the fewest by a CSUSM opponent this season.
This is the sixth time in program history that CSUSM has tallied a winning streak of five or more games.
The Cougars tallied 17 assists to the Broncos’ two.
CPP led the way in steals at 5-4, but CSUSM committed fewer turnovers at 14-10.
CSUSM improved to 7-1 at The Sports Center this season.
This was the Cougars’ first home win over the Broncos since Jan. 12, 2017.
CSUSM is now 6-7 in the all-time series against CPP and is 2-3 at home.
Winning by 26 points, this was CSUSM’s largest margin of victory against CPP in the all-time series.
The Cougars still have a two-game cushion for second place in the CCAA standings with nine games remaining.
Head Coach B.J. Foster joined David Gentile to discuss the Cougars’ 26-point win over Cal Poly Pomona. #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/4G2pWo9wSe
– CSUSM Men’s Basketball (@CSUSM_MBB) January 27, 2023
UP NEXT
CSUSM will finish up its homestand by hosting conference leader No. 12/14 Cal State San Bernardino (15-2, 10-1 CCAA) on Saturday at 3 p.m. in The Sports Center.
