LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men’s basketball team (0-1) began its 2023-24 season with an 81-74 loss to Concordia University Irvine (1-0) in the CCAA/PacWest Conference Challenge on Friday night at Chase Gymnasium on the campus of Biola University.
TOP PERFORMERS
Jermaine Rogers II – 16 points | 4-of-7 3FG
Charlie Henderson – 13 points | 7 rebounds
Luc Krystkowiak – 10 points
Edwyn Collins – 7 rebounds | 6 points | 3 assists
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUSM took the lead right out of the gate with a 3-pointer by Rogers just 14 seconds into the game.
A five-point swing allowed CUI to take its first lead at 5-3 on a jumper by Tim Adetukasi and 3-pointer by Charlie Dalton at the 18:03 mark of the first half.
CSUSM regained the lead at 21-17 with a 7-0 run that was capped by a Camren Pierce jumper with 12:25 remaining in the first period.
Traing 23-22, CUI went on a 7-0 run of its own to go up 29-23 on a Dalton layup with 9:20 to go in the period.
The Cougars’ final lead of the game occurred at the 30-29 mark as Jayden White put up a second-chance layup with 5:09 left in the half.
CSUSM trailed 40-34 at the half as CUI shot 52% (13-of-25) from the field while the Cougars clocked in at 45.2% (14-of-31).
Following a Krystkowiak layup to make it to 40-36 with 19:08 left in the game, CUI went on an 8-0 run to go up 48-36 with 17:33 remaining.
The Golden Eagles took their largest lead of the game at 56-42 as Jackson Harding drained a free throw after being fouled and making a layup with 13:55 to go.
CSUSM fought back by cutting the deficit to 63-57 after Krystkowiak got another layup to go with 6:04 remaining.
That was as close as CSUSM came to CUI’s lead for the remainder of the game as the Golden Eagles’ lead fluctuated between six and 12 points for the final six minutes.
FAST BREAKS
CSUSM shot 46.6% (27-of-58) for the game while CUI was slightly better at 48% (24-of-50).
The Cougars won the battle on the boards at 31-30.
The Golden Eagles tallied 11 steals to the Cougars’ five.
Both teams committed 16 turnovers.
CUI racked up 12 assists to CSUSM’s nine.
CUI had the lead for 35:35 while CSUSM only had it for 2:50.
The Cougars scored 19 points off Golden Eagle turnovers, and 11 points came on second-chance buckets.
Rogers led the Cougars with 16 points in his first official collegiate game.
The all-time series between CSUSM and CUI is now knotted at 7-all.
This was the third consecutive neutral site meeting between the Cougars and Golden Eagles.
UP NEXT
CSUSM will conclude its opening weekend of games by facing host Biola on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Chase Gymnasium.
