SAN MARCOS, Calif. – It's all basketball this week for Cal State San Marcos Athletics as both the men's and women's basketball teams will play their final non-conference games before California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action begins this weekend.

The women's squad will get the week started by hosting Point Loma on Tuesday at 7 p.m. before the men's team hosts Azusa Pacific on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Both teams will travel to Cal State East Bay to begin CCAA play on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Hayward.


WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Tuesday, Nov. 20 – 7 p.m. 
CSUSM (2-1) vs. Point Loma (0-4)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center 
LIVE STATS | THE COUGAR SPORTS NETWORK
 
Saturday, Nov. 24 – 1 p.m. 
CSUSM at Cal State East Bay (2-2)
Hayward, Calif. – Pioneer Gymnasium
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
 
PREVIOUS WEEK

• The Cougars shot 48.3 percent from the field to defeat Concordia Irvine on the road last Thursday.
• Four Cougars reached double-digits in scoring with Emma Forel leading the way with 16 points. Senior Baylee Olsen notched 15 points while juniors Jon'Nae Vermillion and Chloe Eackles added 10 points each.
• In the CCAA statistics, CSUSM ranks second in 3-point field goal percentage defense (22.0 percent) and third in field goal percentage defense (34.1 percent).
• Forel leads the CCAA and ranks 15th in the nation in field goal percentage (65.6 percent). 
• In the 2018-19 CCAA Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll, the Cougars were picked to finish eighth.

 
POINT LOMA BREAKDOWN

• The Sea Lions are still searching for their first win of the 2018-19 season.
• PLNU fell to three CCAA schools in its opening two weeks; Cal Poly Pomona (70-54), Cal State San Bernardino (67-59) and Sonoma State (59-51).
• Sydney Peterson is PLNU's top scorer, averaging 15.8 points per game while Cara Liggins is chipping in 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
• The Sea Lions hold an 8-1 lead in the all-time series against CSUSM with the two teams last meeting coming in 2015.
• PLNU was picked to finish fourth in the 2018-19 PacWest Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll.

 
CAL STATE EAST BAY – CONFERENCE OPENER

• Last weekend, the Pioneers went 1-1 at the Seawolf Hoops Classic hosted by Alaska Anchorage. CSUEB dropped a 66-50 decision against the Seawolves on Friday before rebounding with a 63-57 victory against Alaska Fairbanks the next day.
• CSUEB will travel to Cal Maritime on Tuesday before hosting the Cougars on Saturday. 
• Morgan Green is averaging a team-best 10.5 points and  9.8 rebounds per game (third best in CCAA). 
• The Cougars are 1-2 against CUI with all three of their last meetings coming in 2014. 
• CSUEB was picked to finish third in the 2018-19 CCAA Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll.

 
THE JIMENEZ FILE

• Head coach Renee Jimenez enters her fourth season in charge of the Cougar women's basketball team, a program that is only in its eighth season of existence.
• Jimenez has compiled a 153-119 (.563) in her ten seasons coaching in the CCAA, spending two seasons at Cal State San Bernardino after a five-year stint at Cal State Monterey Bay.

 

MEN'S BASKETBALL
Wednesday, Nov. 21 – 7 p.m.
CSUSM (3-1) vs. Azusa Pacific (2-4)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
LIVE STATS | THE COUGAR SPORTS NETWORK

Saturday, Nov. 24 – 3 p.m.
CSUSM at Cal State East Bay (4-0)
Hayward, Calif. – Pioneer Gymnasium
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

PREVIOUS WEEK

• The Cougars went 2-1 last week with victories over San Diego Christian (84-76) and Concordia (Ore.) (80-76) while falling to Northwest Nazarene (77-62).
• Khalil Fuller nearly averaged a double-double in the Cougars' three games with 15.7 points and 9.7 rebounds.
• Five games into the 2018-19 season, CSUSM ranks third in the nation for total steals (53), 15th for steals per game (10.6), 18th for turnover margin (5.8), 27th for free throws made (75) and 30th for offensive rebounds per game (14.2).
• JR Williams ranks second nationally for total steals with 16 and ranks 17th for steals per game with 3.2.
• Fuller ranks 12th for offensive rebounds per game (4.6) and 15th for total rebounds (44).

THANKSGIVING EVE MATCHUP AGAINST AZUSA PACIFIC

• The Cougars will host Azusa Pacific in their second home game of the season.
• APU is 2-4 to begin the season and took losses to Central Washington and Seattle Pacific this past weekend.
• CSUSM is 2-4 in the all-time series against APU, but CSUSM has won the past two meetings.
• CSUSM  picked up its first home victory against APU last season with a 78-57 win and is now 1-2 when playing APU in The Sports Center.
• APU was picked to finish second in the 2018-19 PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Senior guard Darien McClain was named to the Preseason All-PacWest Team after leading APU with 14.6 points per game, three-pointers made (73), steals (40) and free throws made (126) last season.
• Mandrell Worthy currently leads the team with 15.7 points per game while Selom Mawugbe has 23 blocks in just six games.

CCAA OPENER AT CAL STATE EAST BAY

• CSUSM will open conference play by traveling to Cal State East Bay on Saturday.
• The Pioneers are off to their best start in the CCAA era at 4-0 and secured road wins over Academy of Art and Fresno Pacific this past week.
• CSUEB will travel to Dominican on Tuesday before welcoming CSUSM to town.
• In the all-time series, the Cougars are a perfect 6-0 against the Pioneers and are 3-0 when playing in Hayward.
• In their last meeting, CSUSM defeated CSUEB 79-71 on the road.
• The Pioneers were picked to finish 11th in the 2018-19 CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• CSUEB currently has three players averaging double-figures.
• Juwan Anderson leads the team with 14.5 points per game while Ant Navarrete is averaging a double-double with 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.

THE FOSTER FILE

• Head coach B.J. Foster enters his third season in charge of the CSUSM Men's Basketball program after taking over the head position in 2016.
• Under his leadership, the Cougars advanced to the CCAA Tournament for the first time in 2017-18 after finishing the season with a 15-7 conference record and a 20-9 overall record.
• Prior to becoming head coach of the Cougars, Foster was an assistant coach with the team from 2013 to 2016.
• Foster has tallied a career record of 41-21 (.661).