Box Score
OCEANSIDE, Calif. – The No. 20 Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team held San Diego Christian scoreless for the final 2:40 as the Cougars earned their fifth-consecutive victory, 78-67, Tuesday night at MiraCosta College.

Tied 51-51 with 12:28 remaining, the Cougars used a 17-6 run over the next four minutes to extend its lead to 11. SDCC responded with a 10-2 run to make it 70-67, but CSUSM forced three turnovers and held the Hawks to 0-of-4 from the field the rest of the way to seal the win.

Jacob Ranger responded with back-to-back layups before he and Ali Langford added free throws to extend the final margin to 11.

CSUSM (5-1) matches its longest winning streak since taking five in a row from Dec. 28, 2011 – Jan. 5, 2012.

San Diego Christian falls to 1-3 on the year.

Langford led all Cougars with 16 points, while Jose Rivera tallied 15 on 5-of-11 shooting from three-point range. Hakeem Washington had 12, and Ranger chipped in with 11 points and five assists.

Adam Alfaro tallied six assists as the Cougars registered a season-best 26 assists as a team on their 29 made shots. CSUSM was 49.2 percent from the floor.

The Cougars jumped out to a 23-15 lead with 9:15 left in the first half after Rivera hit his second three of the frame. SDCC would edge within one, but a 9-2 run from the Cougars extended their lead to eight with 3:38 left.

SDCC held the Cougars to just one field goal the rest of the half, but timely free throw shooting handed CSUSM a five-point lead, 38-33, at the break.

The Hawks opened the second half with four consecutive points to edge within one. However, the Cougars answered back, as Washington and Langford converted easy lay-ups on the break.

Washington followed with a pair of free throws before Langford blocked a fast break layup by Kevin Dawson. Quincy Lawson threw a quick outlet pass to Ranger at midcourt before Ranger tossed it ahead to a streaking Washington for the easy lay-in.

Rivera's fourth three pointer made it 47-39, but the Hawks responded with seven straight to make it 47-46 at the 15:14 mark.

Lawson and Adam Eakles responded with back-to-back jumpers in the paint to put the Cougars back up by five.

SDCC was forced to call timeout to stop the bleeding and it seemed to help the Hawks. They were able to force a tie, 51-51, for the first time since the score was 0-0.

However, Rivera hit a three out of CSUSM's timeout and Langford blocked another Hawk attempt to start a fast break that was finished by Alfaro.

Then, Langford backed in a defender on the left block before spinning to his right while converting the layup and drawing a foul. He missed the free throw, but the Cougars led by nine, 62-53, at the eight-minute mark.
Back-to-back baskets from Eakles made it 66-57. The 17-6 run was capped by a layup high off the glass from Washington.

CSUSM travels to Utah this weekend to play in the Westminster Thanksgiving Classic. The Cougars face No. 13 Westminster (Utah) on Friday before playing Montana Tech on Saturday.

The Cougars are 2-0 against top-25 teams this season.