LA JOLLA, Calif. – In a West Region top 10 battle, the Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team fell to crosstown rival UC San Diego, 73-65, in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play on Tuesday night at RIMAC Arena.
 
The loss snaps the Cougars three-game win streak as they drop to 14-4 overall and 9-3 in CCAA play. The Tritons improve to 13-6, 10-3 CCAA and into sole possession of second place in conference. This is the first time CSUSM has lost on the road this season (5-1).
 
Senior Joe Boyd led the Cougars with a season-high 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field and 13 rebounds, his seventh double-double of the season. Classmates Josh Spiers (14), Ethan Alvano (11) and Brian Wright (11) were the other Cougars to finish in double-digits offensively.
 
UCSD started on a 10-1 run to open the game and never looked back. The Tritons led for all, but 21 seconds of the game and their largest lead was by as many as 15 with 8:24 to play in the first half.
 
A made free throw from Alvano would make it just a six point score with 1:25 to play but a Triton timeout followed by back-to-back made free throws from Christian Bayne would eventually put the game back out of reach.
 
CSUSM outscored the Tritons 40-37 in the second half on 11-of-27 (40.7 percent) shooting from the field but were just unable to get the necessary stops to get the game within reach. UCSD shot 48 percent in the second half and 28-of-59 (47.5) for the game.
 
CSUSM was outscored 16-3 in bench points and outrebounded 39-33 for the game.
 
Everman led the Tritons with 24 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes.
 
The Cougars will return home to take on CCAA opponent Sonoma State inside The Sports Center on Thursday Jan. 25. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.