IRVINE, Calif. – Ethan Alvano scored a game-high 32 points and the Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team led for a total of 37:30 to earn its first victory of the season 78-65 over Concordia (Calif.) in non-conference play Saturday night at CU Arena.
Alvano went 9-of-12 from the field and 12-of-16 from the stripe to lift CSUSM to 1-1 on the season. He was one of four Cougars to finish in double digits, including
Dayton Boddie (13 points),
Tyson Kygar (11 points), and
Brian Wright (10 points).
In addition, interim head coach
B.J. Foster registered his first career victory as the head man in charge.
CSUSM fell behind early but responded with an 8-0 run to take an 11-5 lead early in the first half, taking a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the way.
A jumper from Wright made the lead 10 at the halfway mark of the first half.
CUI closed to six, but CSUSM responded with another 8-0 run to push the lead to 14 and eventually led by 15 at the break.
The Eagles were able to cut the deficit to eight, but CSUSM once again responded with a 9-0 run capped by a layup from
Joe Boyd to make it 64-17 with 6:51 remaining.
The Cougars shot 60.5 percent (26-of-43) from the field and hit 70-percent (7-of-10) of their 3-point attempts.
CSUSM hosts Redlands in its home opener on Tuesday, November 15 at 7 p.m. in The Sports Center.
