Box Score IRVINE, Calif. – Malcolm Lemmons hit three key free throws down the stretch and No. 4 Cal State San Marcos held No. 5 Concordia (Calif.) without a shot on its final possession as the Cougars held off the Eagles, 84-81, in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Game of the Week on Friday night at CU Arena.
The Cougars led by as many as 14 in the second half, but a 3-pointer by Delaun Frazier and a steal and a layup by Josh Smith off a Cougar inbound pulled CUI within two, 81-79, with 18 seconds left.
However, CSUSM got out of the trap on its next chance and Lemmons was put on the line. He drained both to make it 83-79.
Nolan Abernathy capitalized off a sagging Cougar defense looking to not foul, making an easy runner in the lane to pull the Eagles back within two.
Once again, Lemmons received the inbound pass off the made basket. He was fouled and made his first attempt to make it 84-81. He missed his second try, allowing the Eagles a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer and seven seconds on the clock.
CUI pushed the ball up the court with no timeouts, but Abernathy nor Frazier could force up a shot before the final horn sounded.
The win improves the Cougars to a NAIA Division I best 19-1 overall. CSUSM has won 10 games in a row. Friday's victory marks the first time in program history in which CSUSM has taken down CUI in Irvine.
CUI sees its eight-game winning streak snapped and drops to 13-3 overall.
Jason Johnson scored a game-high 23 points, while Lemmons finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
De'End Parker recorded 20 points and
Adam Eakles corralled a game-high 13 boards.
CSUSM started slow out of the gate and CUI took a nine point lead, 15-6, with 13:14 to play in the first half.
A 10-0 run turned a four-point deficit into a six-point lead at the 5:06 mark before the Cougars extended their lead to as much as 12, 42-30, on a 3-pointer by Parker with 1:34 left.
CUI would score the final six points of the frame, but CSUSM went into the locker room up 42-36.
The Eagles stayed within two possessions early in the second half, but a 3-pointer by Johnson and a fast-break finger roll from Lemmons put CSUSM up 11 three minutes in.
A pair of free throws by CUI's Stephen Grosby got the Eagles within nine, but Parker answered with a floater and Johnson nailed a three on the next trip down to give the Cougars their biggest lead of the game, 61-47, with 13:12 remaining.
Donnell Phifer led CUI with 19 points and Frazier pitched in with 16.
CSUSM moves on to face Simpson next Saturday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m. at MiraCosta College.
