SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team and No. 22 Chico State put their unblemished conference records on the line this Saturday in Chico.

The Schedule
Game 8
Saturday, December 12 – 7:30 p.m.
CSUSM (4-3, 2-0 CCAA) at No. 22 Chico State (8-1, 2-0 CCAA)
Chico, Calif. – Art Acker Gymnasium
Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

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Cougars Impress in CCAA Debut
The Cougars went 2-0 at home last week in their CCAA competitive debut. CSUSM went to OT for its third consecutive game last Thursday against Humboldt State, but outscored the Jacks 9-4 in the extra session for an 84-79 victory. Darnell Taylor led all scorers with 23 points. On Saturday against Sonoma State, Andrew Bournes' 21 points paced the Cougars to a 67-60 victory. The Cougars are one of five unbeaten teams in the conference.

Taylor Named CCAA Player of the Week
Following a week in which he averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists, Darnell Taylor became the first CSUSM player named CCAA Player of the Week. Against HSU, Taylor scored the Cougars' last six points in regulation to help force overtime before contributing a pair of assists and a game-clinching layup with 15 seconds to play in the extra period.

In The CCAA Ranks
In conference games, CSUSM ranks first in 3-pointers made (12.0) and blocks per game (4.0); second in assists per game (16.0), opponent field goal percentage (39.0) and steals (9.0); and third in scoring (151, 75.5), free throws made (14.5), offensive rebounds (10.5) and total rebounds (38.5) … Taylor ranks second in scoring (20.9) … Daly is second in rebounding (9.1) and fourth in field-goal percentage (64.4).

Chico State Preview
All-time vs. CSUC: Saturday will be the first-ever meeting between the squads.

CSUC Breakdown: The Wildcats, picked to win the CCAA title in the preseason coaches' poll, won three games last week and are one of five undefeated teams in conference play. They've won five straight since their only loss of the season on Nov. 27 against No. 13 Seattle Pacific. Corey Silverstrom leads CSUC with 15.1 PPG, while 2015 CCAA first teamer Robert Duncan is averaging 14.8 PPG.

Notes
Bournes averaged 16.5 points and shot 45-percent (9-of-20) from behind-the-arc last week … Tanner Waldrip started his first two games of the season last week … Taran Brown went 5-of-11 from 3-point range against HSU, his second-straight game with at least five 3-pointers made … Daly's five blocks against Sonoma State tied the CSUSM single-game record and was his fourth game with at least three blocks this season … Daly was also 9-of-15 (60.0) from the field last week … Akachi Okugo had a season-high four assists vs. SSU.

The Jim Saia File
Jim Saia is in his fifth season at the helm of Cal State San Marcos, a program he has built from the ground up since arriving on campus in 2010. Saia holds a 108-28 (.794) on-court record at CSUSM and a 178-57 (.757) on-court record during his previous seven years as a collegiate head coach. He spent three seasons at Fresno Pacific (2007-10) prior to coming to CSUSM.

New Conference
Cal State San Marcos is in its first season of CCAA competition after spending its first four seasons as an independent program in the NAIA. CSUSM was picked to finish fifth in the preseason CCAA coaches' poll. The CCAA is made up of 12 CSU institutions and UC San Diego. The CCAA is one of the premier NCAA Division II leagues in the nation. Its teams have won more national championships (153) than any other conference.

New Territory
After four seasons of competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Cougars enter their first season of NCAA Division II competition in 2015-16. CSUSM is currently in the second year of a three-year transition to full NCAA Division II membership. As a part of the transition, the Cougars will be ineligible for postseason play in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

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