SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos basketball team (14-8, 13-4 CCAA) began its home weekend with a 61-51 win over Chico State (10-12, 8-9 CCAA) on Thursday night at The Sports Center.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Jayce McCain – 15 points | 6 rebounds | 2 assists
Greg Milton III – 15 points | 5 rebounds | 3 assists
Quinn Denker – 13 points | 4 rebounds
Joel Mensah – 11 points | 11 rebounds
Lyle Sutton – 5 points | 5 steals | 3 assists | 3 rebounds
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM began the game on a 7-0 run in the first two minutes.
• Chico then scored 11 consecutive points to take an 11-7 lead with 12:16 to play in the first half.
• The Cougars ended their scoreless streak with a jumper by Edwyn Collins at 11-9 with 10:38 to play in the period.
• CSUSM went up 21-16 on a Sutton 3-pointer with 4:48 left in the half.
• The Cougars went to the locker room with a 25-23 lead over the Wildcats after 20 minutes.
• CSUSM shot 32% (8-of-25) in the first half while Chico came in at 30% (9-of-30).
• Down 46-44, a steal by Sutton set up Milton on a fast break and evened the game at 46-all with 4:53 remaining in the second half to start a 9-0 run. 
• The duo struck again with Sutton dishing the ball to Milton who sunk a 15-foot jumper on the baseline to put CSUSM up 48-46 at 4:20.  
• CSUSM held the Wildcats scoreless for 4:04 before a layup by Jojo Murphy made it 55-48 with 49 seconds to play.
• The Cougars took their largest lead of the game at 59-48 on two good free throws by Milton with 37 seconds left.
• After a 3-pointer by Chico's Miles Daniels made it 59-51, McCain ended the scoring with two good free throws to give CSUSM the double-digit win at 61-51.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUSM concluded the game shooting 36.7% (18-of-49) from the field.
• Chico's 33.3% (20-of-60) from the field tied for the second lowest percentage by a CSUSM opponent this season.
• Twenty-one of the Cougars' 61 points came from the charity stripe as they ended the evening shooting 84%.
• CSUSM also racked up 21 fast-break points to Chico's nine.
• The Cougars were able to convert 19 points off the Wildcats' 15 turnovers.
• Chico won the battle on the glass at 38-36.
• CSUSM had the advantage in assists (10-4) and steals (10-7).
• The Cougars had the lead for 21:33 while Chico had it for 14:35.
• Altogether, the game featured 10 lead changes and seven ties.
• Mensah tallied his fifth double-double of the season.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will host Stanislaus State (9-14, 7-10) on Saturday at 3 p.m. in The Sports Center. With a win, the Cougars would claim a spot in the CCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.
 
During halftime of the CSUSM women's basketball game taking place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, the 2022 CCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship team will be honored with a ring ceremony to commemorate the Cougars' historic season.