SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team opens its first season of California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play this week at home against Humboldt State before hosting Sonoma State in CSUSM's annual Homecoming Game on Saturday.

The Schedule
Game 6
Thursday, December 3 – 8 p.m.
Humboldt State (4-0, 0-0 CCAA) at CSUSM (3-3, 0-0 CCAA)
Oceanside, Calif. – MiraCosta College
Live Stats | Live Video

Game 7 – Homecoming Game
Saturday, December 5 – 7:30 p.m.  
Sonoma State (5-1, 0-0 CCAA) at CSUSM (3-3, 0-0 CCAA)
Oceanside, Calif. – MiraCosta College
Live Stats | Live Video | Tickets

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Homecoming Game – Dec. 5 vs. Sonoma State
Mark your calendars for the 2015 CSUSM Homecoming Game on Saturday, Dec. 5 vs. Sonoma State. To reserve your ticket for the men's and women's doubleheader against the Seawolves, click here: http://goo.gl/WYBX8h. The games are expected to be sellouts, so presale ticket purchases are required.

Unfamiliar Trend
After starting the year 2-0, the Cougars have dropped three straight games, all last week. CSUSM started the week with a six-point loss to 2015 DII quarterfinalist Azusa Pacific on Tuesday. On Friday in Laie against BYU-Hawaii, the Cougars had a late lead, but eventually fell in overtime after a last-second 3-pointer forced the extra period. On Saturday at Chaminade in Honolulu, the Cougars once again fell in overtime, 110-109. The three-game losing streak is the Cougars' first since December 2011.    

New Conference
Cal State San Marcos enters 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.

Humboldt State Preview
All-time vs. HSU: Thursday will be the first meeting between the squads.
 
HSU Breakdown: HSU, picked to take seventh in the CCAA preseason coaches' poll, has started the year with four consecutive home victories. The Lumberjacks are shooting 53.6-percent as a squad while limiting their opponents to a 45.1-percent shooting clip. Rakim Brown leads the 'Jacks with a 24.3-point scoring average while 2014-15 CCAA Freshman of the Year Malik Morgan is averaging 12.0 points per game.

SSU Preview
All-time vs. SSU: CSUSM and SSU will clash for the first time on Saturday night.

SSU Breakdown: The Seawolves were picked to finish 12^th in the 2015-16 CCAA preseason coaches' poll, but have started the year on a tear at 5-1 overall. They've won four straight and have held opponents to just 40-percent shooting. 2014-15 CCAA First Teamer James Davis leads the Seawolves with a 15.8-point scoring average.

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 106-28 (.791) on-court record at CSUSM and a 176-57 (.755) 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 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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