OCEANSIDE, Calif. – The No. 3 Cal State San Marcos basketball team used a timely 9-0 run and couple of key defensive stops to beat Fresno Pacific 73-67 in the Cougars' season opener on Saturday night at MiraCosta College.

Point guard Blake Nash scored a game-high 26 (9-of-16), Julian Camper had 14 (6-of-8) and the Cougars improved to 1-0 on the season.

The Cougars were outrebounded 45-29, but they scored 28 points off 22 FPU turnovers.

"I know we'll improve on our rebounding as the season moves on, but we were still able to force the ball out of their hands to a point where it made a difference in the game," said CSUSM head coach Jim Saia.

CSUSM led by four at the half, but found itself trailing by as many as four in the second stanza.

Bobby Barnes jumper handed FPU a 58-55 lead with 8:51 left, but the Cougars would hold the Sunbirds scoreless over the next three minutes.

Julian Camper's three-point play tied it before Nash added a couple of free throws. Akachi Okugo went right back to Camper inside, and once again, Camper converted the layup and drew a free throw. He missed it, but made up for it the next time down the floor with an easy bucket off a dish from Dayton Boddie to make it 64-58 with 5:50 remaining.

FPU wouldn't come closer than three the rest of the way.

Up three with under a minute left, Declan Daly rejected Roger Paul's finger roll before Wade Collie drew a charge on Paul with thirty on the clock.

He was fouled on the next possession and promptly hit a pair of free throws to make it a two possession game, 72-67
Akachi Okugo iced the game with a free throw.

CSUSM heads north for a pair of exhibitions at Cal and Nevada next week.