SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Men’s and women’s basketball will return to California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play at The Sports Center this week for Cal State San Marcos Athletics.
Ahead of this week’s contests, CSUSM will host its annual Giving Day on Tuesday, Dec. 3. All donations made to CSUSM Athletics will benefit the student-athlete scholarship fund. Donations can be made here.
The undefeated women’s team will host Sonoma State on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. before the men’s team hits the court against the Seawolves at 7:30 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Dec. 5 – 5:30 p.m.
RV/No. 17 CSUSM (7-0, 3-0 CCAA) vs. Sonoma State (5-2, 1-1 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
Live Stats | Watch Live
LAST WEEK •CSUSM remains undefeated at 7-0 after picking up two wins last week at the 2019 Malika Sports Tours Oahu Thanksgiving Classic.
•This is CSUSM’s best start in program history.
•The Cougars took down No. 11/11 Minnesota State-Moorhead in overtime on Thanksgiving, their second win over a nationally-ranked team this season.
•CSUSM followed up the 55-43 victory against Chaminade on Friday.
•The Cougars are the NCAA Division II national leader in 3-point field-goal percentage defense, holding their opponents to an average of 17.0%.
•CSUSM is leading the conference in defensive rebounds per game (30.0).
•In the NCAA Division II national statistics, the Cougars are 23rd with a 77.3 free-throw percentage.
•Stephanie Custodio is the CCAA leader and ranks No. 10 in the nation in free throw percentage, going 17-of-18 (94.4%) in her first seven games.
•Emma Forel leads the conference in field goal percentage at 59.4%, ranking 31st in the nation.
•Jon’Nae Vermillion is just one of two players in the CCAA averaging a double-double (13.1 ppg; 10.0 rpg.).
•Vermillion’s 70 rebounds ranks her second in the conference and 21st in the nation.
•In the latest D2SIDA West Region Poll, the Cougars moved up one spot to No. 2.
THURSDAY VS. SONOMA STATE •The Cougars hold a 6-2 lead in the all-time series against the Seawolves and are undefeated on their home court at 4-0.
•CSUSM had its largest margin of victory (72-54) over SSU in the Cougars’ last meeting with the Seawolves on Jan. 3 in the Sports Center.
•SSU dropped its CCAA opener 64-58 to Humboldt State in Arcata on Nov. 21.
•The Seawolves bounced back with a 69-55 conference home victory over Cal State Monterey Bay on Nov. 30.
•Ugochi Anudokem leads SSU in points (15.3) and rebounds (13.5) but hasn’t played in the Seawolves’ last three games.
•The Seawolves lead the CCAA in free-throw percentage at 77.5 with the Cougars on their heels with a 77.3 percentage.
•SSU was picked to finish eighth in the CCAA Preseason Poll.
•The Seawolves broke into the top 10 in the D2SIDA West Region Poll at No. 10 after receiving votes last week.
THE JIMENEZ FILE •Head coach Renee Jimenez enters her fifth season in charge of the Cougar women’s basketball team, a program that is only in its eighth season of existence.
•Jimenez has compiled a 178-129 (.580) in her 12 seasons coaching in the CCAA, spending two seasons at Cal State San Bernardino after a five-year stint at Cal State Monterey Bay.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Dec. 5 – 7:30 p.m.
CSUSM (4-5, 0-3 CCAA) vs. Sonoma State (3-4, 2-0 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
Live Stats | Watch Live
PREVIOUS WEEK •The Cougars fell 67-66 on a last-second three against No. 25/20 Azusa Pacific on Tuesday.
•Khalil Fuller led CSUSM with 18 points and nine rebounds.
•CSUSM then fell 75-69 at Cal State LA on Saturday.
•Blake Seits posted a season-high 23 points while Fuller posted his third double-double of the year with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
•Fuller’s 66.1 field-goal percentage leads the CCAA and ranks 19th nationally.
•Fuller’s 60 rebounds rank third in the league and 69th nationally while his 7.5 rebounds per game rank fourth in the conference.
•Jayce McCain’s 2.56 rebounds per game rank third in the league and 31st nationally while his 23 total steals rank second in the conference and fifth nationally.
•Seits’ 22 3-pointers rank fourth in the CCAA and 48th nationally.
•CSUSM’s 84 total steals lead the league and rank third nationally.
•The Cougars have pulled down 347 boards this season – first in the CCAA and 10th most nationally.
•At 27.44 defensive rebounds per game, CSUSM leads the CCAA.
•The Cougars have dished out 125 assists this season – third most in the league and 22nd most nationally.
LONE DECEMBER HOME GAME AGAINST SONOMA STATE •CSUSM will play its lone December home game against Sonoma State on Thursday.
•After Thursday’s game, CSUSM will have a two-week break before travel to Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino on Dec. 19 and 21, respectively.
•Last week, the Seawolves lost by 20 at home to Seattle Pacific (75-55) before earning an 85-82 home win against Cal State Monterey Bay.
•SSU ranks dead last in the CCAA in 11 categories, including scoring offense (72.0), scoring margin (-8.8) and field-goal percentage defense (47.8%).
•SSU is giving up 77 points per game – fourth most in the CCAA.
•The Seawolves are committing the fewest fouls in the conference and 21st fewest nationally at 13.9 per game.
•Isaac Davidson leads SSU with 20.0 points per game while shooting 52.6% from the field.
•CSUSM owns a 4-3 series lead against SSU.
•The Cougars split the season series against the Seawolves last season by falling 80-66 at home before earning an 80-74 win in Rohnert Park.
•In The Sports Center, CSUSM and SSU are tied at 2-2 and have alternated wins in each of the Seawolves’ visits to San Marcos.
•The Seawolves were picked to finish 12th in the CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
THE FOSTER FILE •Head coach B.J. Foster enters his fourth season in charge of the CSUSM Men’s Basketball program after taking over the head position in 2016.
•Under his leadership, the Cougars advanced to the CCAA Tournament for the first time in 2017-18 after finishing the season with a 15-7 conference record and a 20-9 overall record.
•Prior to becoming head coach of the Cougars, Foster was an assistant coach with the team from 2013 to 2016.
•Foster has tallied a career record of 51-43 (.543).
