HAYWARD, Calif. – In its final road game of the regular season, the Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team fell 73-68 to Cal State East Bay in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play at Pioneer Gymnasium.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Marcus Brown – 17 points | 6-of-11 FG | 3-of-5 3FG
Alex Gil-Fernandez – 15 points | 9 rebounds | 2 assists
Blake Seits – 14 points | 2 rebounds | 2 assists
Khalil Fuller – 10 points | 13 rebounds
Jayce McCain – 7 points | 7 rebounds | 2 assists
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Pioneers took eight-point leads on two separate occasions in the first half.
• After Julian Lopez's three put CSUEB up 24-16, CSUSM marched back with a 9-0 run to retake the lead at 25-24 with 5:46 remaining after a three by Brown.
• Both sides kept it within two possessions of each other for the remainder of the half.
• Kyle Scalmanini made a jumper in the paint with four seconds remaining in the half to give CSUSM a narrow 36-35 lead after 20 minutes.
• Brown led the Cougars with nine points as the team shot 45.5% (15-of-33) in the first half while holding the Pioneers to 33.3% (11-of-33).
• The Cougars led for just 46 seconds in the first half as the Pioneers led for 18:12.
• With 15:58 to go in the second half, Zafir Williams' layup gave CSUEB a 46-41 lead.
• A 10-3 run by the Cougars was capped by a Seits three to give CSUSM a 51-49 lead with 12:25 to play.
• The Pioneers went back up by four at 57-53 as Wyatt Maker made the jumper and foul shot with 8:54 remaining.
• CSUSM took its largest lead of the game at 60-57 with 5:37 to play on a layup by Fuller.
• After trading leads, the Cougars took their final lead of the game at 66-64 with 2:19 to go after Seits made all three of his free throws.
• After Seits' free throws, CSUEB went on a 7-0 run to take a 73-66 lead with 29 seconds to play.
• Gil-Fernandez was able to cut the Cougars' deficit to 73-68 with a couple of free throws with 25 seconds remaining, but the Pioneers were able to hang on for the win.
• CSUEB shot 50% (15-of-30) from the field in the second half and held CSUSM to 39.3% (11-of-28).

 
FAST BREAKS

• CSUSM falls to 12-15 (8-13 CCAA) while CSUEB improves to 15-11 (11-9 CCAA).
• With losses by Cal State LA and Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday, CSUSM is still eighth in the CCAA standings by a half-game.
• The Cougars ended the game shooting 42.6% from the field (26-of-61) while the Pioneers came in at 41.3% (26-of-63).
• CSUSM outrebounded CSUEB by a 38-32 margin.
• The Cougars' 17 turnovers were their second most in CCAA play this season.
• Fuller notched his 10th double-double of the season.
• Fuller ended the game with 222 rebounds for the year – one shy of last season's total and currently fourth most in program history.
• Seits' 77 three for the year now rank fifth for a single season at CSUSM.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will host UC San Diego in the final game of the regular season next Saturday at 3 p.m. Prior to the game, the Cougars will honor seniors Darae Elliott, Alec Frank and Khalil Fuller as part of Senior Day.