LA MIRADA, Calif. – The 12^th-ranked Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team saw a 15-point second-half lead dissipate to six, but responded with an 11-2 run late in the game to provide the finishing touches on a 74-65 victory over Biola at Chase Gymnasium.
 
After CSUSM's 14-0 run handed CSUSM a seemingly insurmountable 49-36 lead at the 15:38 mark, Biola (1-1) eventually trimmed the margin down to six with nine minutes remaining.

However, the Cougars responded with another outburst to put the game out of reach.

Malcolm Lemmons followed a pair of Brain Emanuel free throws to make it 61-51 before Bobby Macias hit a layup and added a pair of free throws on two of the Cougars' next three possessions. Khalil Murphy connected with a jumper from the baseline to make the lead 68-53 with four minutes remaining.

CSUSM then managed the clock and made five clutch free throws to seal the win.

Macias led the Cougars with 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting while dishing-out a team-high five assists. De'End Parker connected with 15 and matched Jason Johnson with a team-high six rebounds.

CSUSM narrowly won the rebound battle, 32-30, but registered 19 offensive boards compared with the Eagles' nine.

The Cougars started the game 2-of-17 from the floor, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Macias and Tyree Murray gave CSUSM its first lead at the 10:30 mark of the first half.

Biola retook a three-point lead, but the Cougars punched back with 17-4 burst that saw CSUSM jump up by 10 with three minutes remaining.

The Eagles scored the final six points of the half to pull back within four at the break before taking its final lead of the game, 36-35, 1:41 into the final stanza.

The win marks the first time in CSUSM's brief three-year history in which it has started the year 3-0 overall.

The Cougars have the rest of the work week off before playing host to Daemen College in CSUSM's first-ever Homecoming Game on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at MiraCosta College.

To preorder tickets for the Cougars' home-opener, click here.