SEASIDE, Calif. – In the first game of the 2019 Otter Invitational at Cal State Monterey Bay, the Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team posted a 68-52 victory over Academy of Art on Friday afternoon at The Otter Sports Center.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Marcus Brown – 14 points | 6-of-8 FG | 2-of-3 3FG
Khalil Fuller – 14 points | 9 rebounds
Blake Seits – 11 points | 4 assists | 3 steals
Alex Gil-Fernandez – 10 points
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Art U began the game up 9-2 before CSUSM reeled them back in with a 7-0 run to knot the game at 9-all after a three by Jayce McCain at 14:45.
• The Cougars took their largest lead of the first half at 30-17 on a 13-0 run that was capped off by a Gil-Fernandez jumper with 4:39 remaining.
• CSUSM went to the locker room with a 34-24 lead over Art U behind Brown's game-leading 14 points, who was 6-of-7 from the floor.
• The Cougars shot 41.2% from the field in the first half compared to the Urban Knight's 34.6%.
• After Art U cut the deficit to 40-33 at 15:49 in the second half, CSUSM exploded with a 20-4 run and took its largest lead of the game at 60-37 with 7:51 remaining.
• The Cougars held a lead of at least 15 points for the remainder of the contest before earning the win.
• Fuller led CSUSM with 10 points and nine rebounds in the second half despite carrying four fouls for a large chunk of the period.

 
FAST BREAKS

• CSUSM improves to 3-1 overall while Art U drops to 2-2.
• The Cougars ended the game shooting 41.3% (26-of-63).
• The Urban Knights committed 23 turnovers while the Cougars tallied a season-low 11.
• CSUSM scored 25 points off Art U's 23 turnovers.
• The Cougars had four players in double figures for the first time this season.
• CSUSM held a 10-4 advantage for steals and an 11-9 advantage for assists.
• The Cougars have tallied at least nine steals in all four games this season.
• Out of 40 minutes, CSUSM held the lead for 32:35.
• Brown's 14 points were a season high.
• This was the first-ever meeting between the Cougars and Urban Knights.
• With the victory, CSUSM head coach B.J. Foster earned his 50th career win – all with the Cougars.
• CSUSM last began a season at 3-1 in 2017-18.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will wrap up the 2019 Otter Invitational on Saturday as it faces Alaska Fairbanks for the very first time at 1 p.m.