SAN DIEGO – In its first warmup for the 2023-24 season, the Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team fell 81-50 to the defending NCAA Division I Runner-Up San Diego Aztecs in an exhibition at Viejas Arena on Monday night.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Jermaine Rogers II – 15 points | 4-for-8 FG | 3-for-7 3FG
Jayden White – 7 points | 3 rebounds | 2 steals
Jack Schultz – 7 points | 3-for-4 FG
Luc Krystkowiak – 4 rebounds | 3 points
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars began the game on a 5-0 run thanks to an opening 3-pointer by Schultz followed by a turnaround jumper by Charlie Henderson at the 19:09 and 18:06 marks.
• At the first media timeout, CSUSM was still up 9-4 following a turnaround jumper by Jayden White with 15:23 remaining in the half.
• SDSU knotted the game at 12 with a pair of free throws by Jaedon LeDee at the 13:55 mark.
• After a jumper by Max Tengan made it 14-12, a 3-pointer by LeDee gave the Aztecs their first lead at 15-14 with 13:30 to go.
• The Cougars tied the Aztecs at 19-all with a 3-pointer by White with 9:52 left in the half.
• The Aztecs took the lead for good at the 20-19 mark after Micah Parrish made a second-chance free throw with 9:32 remaining.
• CSUSM trailed SDSU 43-30 at the half as Schultz and Rogers led CSUSM with five points each.
• The Cougars were 12-of-30 (40%) from the field in the first half while the Aztecs clocked in at 12-of-29 (41.4%). SDSU took advantage of CSUSM's 18 first-half fouls and went 16-of-27 (59.3%) from the charity stripe.
• SDSU outscored CSUSM 38-20 in the second half, shooting 50% (15-of-30) to CSUSM's 20.8% (5-of-24).
• The Aztecs took their largest lead of the game with 2:08 to play as Miles Heide made a pair of free throws to make it 78-44.

 
FAST BREAKS

• This was the Cougars' first exhibition against the Aztecs since 2016 and the sixth overall between the two schools.
• After redshirting his true freshman season, Rogers led the Cougars with 15 points in his first collegiate contest.

 
UP NEXT
In its final tune-up before the 2023-24 season gets underway, CSUSM will go up against another Division I opponent on Friday as it travels to UC Irvine for a 7 p.m. tip. The game will air live on ESPN+.