SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team opens a busy week with a win over Azusa Pacific, 78-57, on Tuesday night at The Sports Center.
 
Both teams struggled from the field as CSUSM outshot APU just 39.3 percent (24-of-61) to 36.2 percent (17-of-47) for the game. The CSUSM Cougars forced a season-high 21 turnovers from APU including 15 in the first half.
 
CSUSM moves to 3-1 on the season as the APU Cougars drop to 3-3 following the loss.
 
Senior Ethan Alvano recorded his first double-double of the season with 30 points and 10 assists. He also recorded three steals in 37 minutes and went 9-9 from the charity stripe. Junior Dalton Soffer hit a season-high, six 3-pointers and ended the night with 18 points and six rebounds.
 
Early on, CSUSM set the tone defensively, holding APU to just three points through nearly the first five and a half minutes of the game. The CSUSM Cougars tallied 12 steals as a team including three guys with two or more. Senior Collin Host had a team-high four and would also finish with eight points in 15 minutes played.
 
CSUSM won the second chance points battle, 18-5 and points off turnovers, 24-11.
 
The CSUSM Cougars come back from Thanksgiving and host No.7 in the West Region, Concordia, Ore. (4-0) on Friday, Nov. 24 at The Sports Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.