SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Leading for all but 50 seconds, the Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team (12-7, 11-3 CCAA) knocked off CCAA leader No. 12/14 Cal State San Bernardino (15-3, 10-2 CCAA) by a score of 98-85 on Saturday afternoon at The Sports Center.
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TOP PERFORMERS
Greg Milton III – 30 points | 9 rebounds | 4 assists | 2 steals
Jayce McCain – 16 points | 3 assists | 3 steals | 2 rebounds
Quinn Denker – 14 points | 5 assists | 4 rebounds
Joel Mensah – 12 points | 5 rebounds
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- Close early, CSUSM took its first double-digit lead at 16-6 on a Donovan Watkins' layup with 13:43 to go in the half.
- Up 21-11, the Cougars scored 13 consecutive points with six made free throws coming off a common, technical and flagrant foul by the Coyotes' Brandon Knapper. Mensah made a jumper following the free throws to give CSUSM a 34-11 lead with 10:39 to play.
- The Cougars took their largest lead of the game at 24 points following an Edwyn Collins 3-pointer that put CSUSM up 37-13 with 8:55 left in the half.
- CSUSM went to the locker room with a 53-32 lead over San Bernardino, shooting 53.1% (17-of-32) compared to the Coyotes' 33.3% (10-of-30).
- Down by 23 at 68-45 with 13:06 to play, CSUSB began to chip away at CSUSM's lead and brought the deficit down to seven at 70-63 with an 18-2 run at the 8:21 mark.
- The Cougars' lead soon returned to double digits after McCain drained a 3-pointer with 7:25 remaining to make it 75-65.
- CSUSM's lead never dipped below 10 points in the final seven minutes.
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FAST BREAKS
- Milton tallied his second game of the year with 30 or more points and eighth game with 20-plus points.
- The Cougars' 98 points were the team's most points in regulation since defeating West Coast Baptist 99-49 at The Sports Center on Nov. 16, 2017.
- CSUSM made 27 free throws for the game, tying for the fourth most in team history.
- This was CSUSM's seventh win over a ranked team in the NCAA era (2015-present) and third victory over a ranked team at home.
- The Coyotes were the previous ranked team the Cougars defeated as CSUSM knocked off then No. 6/5 CSUSB in the CCAA Championship game last March.
- This was CSUSM's first home win against CSUSB since Nov. 30, 2016 and is now 3-2 when playing at home against the Coyotes.
- The Cougars tallied 18 assists to the Yotes' nine.
- CSUSM's six turnovers were its second fewest of the season while CSUSB committed 11.
- The Cougars also racked up eight steals to the Yotes' three.
- CSUSM was 51.7% (31-of-60) from the field while CSUSB came in at 46.8% (29-of-62).
- The Cougars are now 8-1 at home this season.
- Both of CSUSB's conference losses have occurred on the road. The first came in a 94-84 defeat on Jan. 12 at Stanislaus State.
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UP NEXT
CSUSM will head to Cal State Monterey Bay for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff on Thursday.
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