SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team took down nonconference opponent, Biola, by a score of 84-57, in the season opener for both teams Friday night at The Sports Center.
 
CSUSM shot 51.8 percent (29-of-56) from the floor, 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from behind the arc and 80 percent (16-of-20) from the charity stripe. BU went 40.4 percent (23-of-57) on field goals, 17.4 percent (4-of-23) on 3-pointers and 63.6 percent (7-of-11) on free throws. The Cougars were outrebounded 33-30, including 11-7 on the offensive glass.
 
Senior Ethan Alvano scored a game-high 18 points to go along with five rebounds and eight assists. Senior Joe Boyd nearly missed a double-double finishing with 16 points and eight rebounds. Transfer junior Dalton Soffer hit a game-best five threes' and finished with 15 points in his Cougar debut. Trevor Treinen was the Eagles leading scorer with 13 points.
 
The Cougars got a three-point play from Boyd heading into the first media timeout to give CSUSM an 11-8 lead, a lead that they would hang onto for the remainder of the game. After a made free-throw by Boyd with just 42 seconds left in the opening half, the Cougars stretched their lead to 47-38 at halftime.
 
CSUSM grabbed its largest lead of the night of 27 points on a dagger three-pointer from Soffer, making it 82-55 with just 1:45 remaining in the second half.
 
The Cougars will continue play in the CCAA/PacWest Conference Challenge tomorrow as they take on Concordia-Irvine at home inside The Sports Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.