SAN MARCOS, Calif. - With the game tied 73-73 with a minute and a half remaining, the Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team allowed a 12-3 San Francisco State run and ultimately fell by a final score of 85-76 in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) matchup, Thursday night at The Sports Center.
 
The Cougars drop to 13-7 overall and 8-5 in conference play. The Gators improve to 16-3 overall and 9-3 in the CCAA.
 
CSUSM shot 42.9 percent (24-56) from the floor, 25.8 percent (8-31) from behind the arc and 66.7 percent (20-30) from the charity stripe. SF State went 44.6 percent (29-65) on field goals, 45.5 percent (10-22) on 3-pointers and 63 percent (17-27) on free throws. The Cougars won the rebound battle 37-34, but lost the turnover battle 10-7.
 
Junior guard Ethan Alvano led CSUSM with 23 points, six rebounds and four assists. Junior forward Joe Boyd collected his 10th double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard Josh Spiers also collected a double-double, his first of the season, with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Coley Apsay, Nick Calcaterra and Warren Jackson had 19, 16 and 15 points, respectively, for the Gators.
 
The Cougars grabbed their biggest lead of the first half, 14-8, after a 3-pointer from Spiers. CSUSM had a five-point advantage at halftime, 32-27, after Spiers knocked down his second trey of the game. 
 
SF State kept chipping away at the Cougar lead to start the second half. A layup from the Gators' Israel Hakim evened the score 46-46 with 12:47 remaining in the contest. CSUSM responded and opened up to a seven-point lead, 63-56, after an Alvano layup. The two teams battled and tied the game three more times.
 
With the score even, a 3-pointer and a successful and-one conversion from Apsay gave SF State a six-point advantage, 79-73. The Cougars were forced to foul and the Gators made their necessary free throws down the stretch.
 
CSUSM will have a day off before taking on Sonoma State on Saturday, Jan. 28. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.