SAN MARCOS, Calif. – This week, the Cal State San Marcos men's and women's basketball teams will open 2020 by returning to The Sports Center.
 
On Thursday, the Cougars will host Cal State East Bay. The women's game will get underway at 5:30 p.m. and will be followed by the men's contest at 7:30 p.m.
 
CSUSM will round out the week by facing Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday. The women's bout will begin at 1 p.m. while the men's game will start at 3 p.m.
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Jan. 2 – 5:30 p.m.
No. 24/16 CSUSM (10-1, 5-1 CCAA) vs. Cal State East Bay (10-3, 6-1 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
Live Stats | Watch Live
 
Saturday, Jan. 4 – 1 p.m.
CSUSM vs. Cal State Monterey Bay (2-7, 2-5 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
Live Stats | Watch Live
 
PREVIOUS WEEK

• The Cougars closed out 2019 with their best record in program history at 10-1 while ranking in the top 25 in both the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National Poll (24th) and D2SIDA National Poll (16th). 
• CSUSM racked up a 71-54 victory at Cal Poly Pomona (Dec. 19) before taking down Cal State San Bernardino (Dec. 21) with a 63-56 win. 
• Kelsey Forrester collected career-bests against Cal Poly Pomona with 23 points and six 3-pointers. 
• Jon'Nae Vermillion's 23 points and Emma Forel's 17 rebounds at CSUSB were the most by a Cougar in either category this season.
• CSUSM continues to lead the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage defense, holding opponents to just 20.9%. 
• The Cougars also remain on top in scoring defense in the CCAA and 30th nationally, keeping opponents to a 56.6%. 
• Vermillion is in the top of five in the CCAA in scoring (5th, 14.0) and rebounding (3rd, 9.5).  
• Forel's 59.2 field-goal percentage is the best in the CCAA and rank 20th nationally. 
• Stephanie Custodio's is the CCAA leader in free throw percentage (89.2) while ranking 24th in the nation. 
• The Cougars are third in the CCAA and 47th nationally with a 74.9 free throw percentage. 
• With a 42.3 field-goal percentage, CSUSM ranks second in the CCAA and 96th nationally. 

 
BREAKING IN THE NEW YEAR VERSUS CSUEB

• The Pioneers recorded an 82-70 victory at home against Stanislaus State on Dec. 22. 
• CSUEB's lone conference loss (62-59) was against Cal State San Bernardino on Dec. 12. 
• Regina Sankey leads the Pioneers in scoring at 11.6 points per game. 
• Morgan Greene's 8.4 rebounds per game rank seventh in the CCAA. 
• Madison Schiller's 27 steals rank third in the CCAA and 61st nationally. 
• The Pioneers lead the CCAA with 214 assists and are eighth in the nation. 
• CSUEB is the CCAA leader in field-goal percentage (43.7) while ranking second in the CCAA in field-goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 35.7%. 
• The Pioneers are second in the conference in steals (127) and steals per game (9.8). 
• The Cougars swept last season's series with a 68-58 victory in Hayward (Nov. 24) before recording a 61-48 win in San Marcos (Feb. 28). 
• CSUEB holds a 5-3 lead in the all-times series against the Cougars. 
• The series is tied at 2-2 in The Sports Center. 

 
FACE OFF AGAINST CSUMB ON SATURDAY

• The Otters are 2-2 in their last four games
• CSUMB's final game of 2019 was a 81-62 loss against Cal State Dominguez Hills at home on Dec. 21. 
• The Otters rank 11th out of 13 teams in the CCAA standings. 
• CSUMB has the second-worst scoring percentage in the CCAA at 59.6 points per game. 
• Katie Fitzgerald is the Otters' leading scorer at 14.0 points per game and has the seventh-best field-goal percentage at 41.8 in the CCAA. 
• With 167 fouls, CSUMB ranks second in the CCAA and 76th nationally in fewest fouls. 
• The Otters are allowing their opponents to shoot 43.4 from the field - the worst in the CCAA. 
• CSUMB's rebounding offense (31.6) and defensive rebounds (21.4) is the lowest in the conference. 
• The Cougars are 5-2 in the all-time series against the Otters and have won their last four meetings. 
• CSUSM is a perfect 3-0 at home against the Otters. 
• The Cougars concluded their 2018-19 regular season with a 67-52 victory over CSUMB on March 2. 

 
THE JIMENEZ FILE

• Head coach Renee Jimenez enters her fifth 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 181-130 (.582) in her 12 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
Thursday, Jan. 2 – 7:30 p.m.
CSUSM (5-7, 1-5 CCAA) vs. Cal State East Bay (9-4, 5-2 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
Live Stats | Watch Live
 
Saturday, Jan. 4 – 3 p.m.
CSUSM vs. Cal State Monterey Bay (4-9, 1-6 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
Live Stats | Watch Live
 
PREVIOUS WEEK

• CSUSM was last in action on Dec. 19 and Dec. 21 at Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino.
• The Cougars fell 78-59 to the Broncos before taking a 89-73 loss to the Coyotes.
• Marcus Brown was CSUSM's leading scorer in both contests with 12 and 14 points, respectively.
• Khalil Fuller notched his fourth double-double of the season with 13 rebounds and 10 points against CSUSB.
• Fuller's 7.7 rebounds per game rank third in the CCAA.
• Jayce McCain's 28 steals rank 15th nationally and lead the conference.
• McCain's assist-turnover ratio of 3.60 ranks 16th nationally.
• The Cougars are committing the second-fewest fouls per game in the league at 15.1 and rank 31st nationally.
• CSUSM's 3.0 blocked shots per game rank second in the CCAA.
• At 26.25 defensive rebounds per game, CSUSM ranks second in the conference.
• The Cougars are third in the CCAA for total rebounds per game at 36.58.
• CSUSM's 106 steals rank 29th nationally while the team's 8.8 steals per game rank 36th.

 
OPENING THE NEW YEAR AGAINST THE PIONEERS

• Last time out, CSUEB took a narrow 59-58 loss to Stanislaus State.
• The Pioneers are 4-1 in their last five games.
• Zafir Williams is the Pioneers best player as he leads the team and CCAA in points per game (20.1), total points (265), total rebounds (107) and double-doubles (6).
• Williams also leads CSUEB with a 51.0 field-goal percentage, an 84.2 free-throw percentage and 8.2 rebounds per game.
• The Pioneers have the 18th-best scoring defense in the nation at 65.8 points allowed per game.
• CSUEB has tallied the 16th-most steals in Division II at 116.
• The Pioneers are holding opponents to 31.2% from beyond the arc – the best in the CCAA.
• CSUEB is forcing 17.62 turnovers per game – second best in the league.
• CSUSM owns a 7-1 lead in the all-time series against CSUEB.
• The Cougars and Pioneers split last season's series as each won on their home floor.
• CSUEB's win at home last season was their first victory in the all-time series.
• CSUSM is 4-0 when playing CSUEB at The Sports Center.

 
SATURDAY MATCHUP AGAINST THE OTTERS

• The Otters have lost their last three games and are 1-8 in their last nine.
• Before the holiday break, CSUMB took an 86-75 loss at home against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
• The Otters are being outscored by 6.9 points per game this season – the second-worst point differential in the CCAA.
• Jahvon Johnson is CSUMB's leading scorer at 14.2 points per game and has made the 11th-most free throws in the nation this season with 71.
• At 209 made three throws, the Otters rank 19th nationally.
• CSUMB is allowing 83.4 points per game – the worst in the CCAA.
• Teams are shooting 47.4% from the field against the Otters – the second-worst field-goal percentage defense in the league.
• The Otters' own field-goal percentage of 43.5 is also next-to-last in the conference.
• CSUSM is 5-1 in the all-time series against CSUMB and has won the last four meetings.
• The Cougars are undefeated at 3-0 when playing the Otters at home.
• CSUSM won last year's lone meeting 90-84 at The Sports Center.

 
THE FOSTER FILE

• Head coach B.J. Foster enters his fourth 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 52-45 (.536).