Box Score

COSTA MESA, Calif. – The No. 20 Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team trailed in the first half, but rebounded to overtake Vanguard University 85-69 on Friday evening at The Pit.

The Cougars (4-1) have won four straight since its season-opening loss at NCAA Division II's Fresno Pacific.

Jacob Ranger led the Cougars with 18 points, while Quincy Lawson and Hakeem Washington registered 17 points apiece. Lawson added a team-high nine boards, while Ranger chipped in with eight.

Jose Rivera was 3-of-5 from three-point range for 11 points and added a team-high six assists.

Adam Eakles was perfect from the floor, going 2-of-2 and making all five of his free throws for nine points.

CSUSM shot a season-best 53.7 percent from the field (29-of-54), outrebounding the Lions 40-26.

The Cougars also forced 24 turnovers and held Vanguard to 42-percent shooting.

The Cougars trailed by as much as nine in the opening frame, but used an 20-4 run over seven minutes to take a 41-33 advantage with 1:22 left in the half. Rivera found Lawson for a dunk to cap off the run and the Cougars took a nine-point lead into half time.

Rivera hit a three and Ali Langford followed with lay-in to make it 48-34 two minutes into the final stanza. 

The Lions edged with nine with 9:41 remaining, but Rivera responded with a lay-up and a three on consecutive possessions before Lawson and Langford added baskets to extend the Cougar lead to 18, 72-54, at the 6:53 mark.

After a Lions' jumper, Ranger answered with a three to hand CSUSM its biggest lead of the game, 77-58.

The Cougars next game is on Tuesday, November 20 at home against San Diego Christian. Tip-off at MiraCosta College is set for 7:30 p.m.