MERCED, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team (6-4, 3-2 CCAA) edged out UC Merced (3-6, 1-4 CCAA) with a 62-57 victory on Friday night at Greg and Cathie Hostetler Court.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Keavie Love – 16 points | 3 rebounds | 2 assists | 2 steals
Dexter Stratton – 12 points | 7 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal
Aaron Ragen – 10 points | 2 rebounds | 1 steal
Nate Simon – 10 points | 3 assists
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UC Merced opened the game with a 7-1 lead before CSUSM responded with a 13-6 run to take its first lead at 14-13 on Nate Simon three with 11:21 to go in the half.
• The Cougars closed the first half strong, hitting back-to-back threes to go up 31-26 at the break after shooting 37.0% (10-of-27) from the field compared to UC Merced's 48.0% (12-of-25).
• CSUSM extended its lead to eight at 36-28 early in the second half following a Keavie Love three-pointer and free throws.
• UC Merced rallied to tie the game at 42-42 with 11:39 remaining, but CSUSM went ahead 50-45 with an Aaron Ragen 3-pointer.
• A Love fastbreak layup with 3:14 to go put the Cougars up 58-50.
• The Bobcats brought the deficit back down to two at 58-56, but the Cougars sealed the win at the free-throw line, scoring their final four points in the last 15 seconds.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUSM shot 36.4% (20-of-55) from the field while UC Merced finished at 46.2% (24-of-52).
• The Cougars hit 8-of-25 (32.0%) from three-point range compared to UC Merced's 3-of-15 (20.0%).
• CSUSM dominated at the free-throw line, going 14-of-18 (77.8%) while UC Merced was 6-of-13 (46.2%).
• UC Merced held a 37-28 advantage on the boards, but CSUSM forced 18 turnovers and converted them into 23 points.
• The Cougars scored 19 points on fast breaks to the Bobcats' eight.
• CSUSM now has a three-game winning streak – its longest since the 2022-23 season.
• This was the first meeting between CSUSM and UC Merced since the 2013-14 season and was the Cougars' third win in a row over the Bobcats.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will end its road trip to the Central Valley with a stop at Stanislaus State on Sunday at 3 p.m.