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CSUSM Pushes UCSD to Overtime in 74-72 Exhibition Loss

Fri, Oct 24, 2025

LA JOLLA, Calif. – In its lone exhibition of the 2025-26 season, the Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team pushed former CCAA rival UC San Diego to overtime but fell 74-72 on Friday night at LionTree Arena.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Dexter Stratton – 14 points | 10 rebounds | 3-of-4 3FG
Keavie Love – 13 points | 6 rebounds | 3-of-5 3FG
Nate Simon – 11 points | 3 assists | 1 rebound
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • CSUSM opened on a 7–0 run, capped by a Jaylin Leslie three-pointer off a pass from Max Tengan.
  • Remington Rofer and Tengan each hit early jumpers following UCSD turnovers.
  • The Cougars extended their advantage to 13–4 on a Nate Simon step-back three at the 14:48 mark.
  • Micah Boone came off the bench and knocked down a three to make it 16–7 midway through the period.
  • Keavie Love drilled a deep three-pointer at 12:37 to push the lead to 19–10, CSUSM's largest of the night.
  • UCSD closed the gap with a 6–0 spurt, trimming the deficit to 23–19.
  • Freshman guard Cole Roque hit a corner three and Boone followed with a putback to steady the Cougars late in the half.
  • Chanel Mballa's layup in the closing seconds sent CSUSM into halftime up 34–30.
  • Dexter Stratton opened the half with a jumper to make it 36–30.
  • UCSD responded with an 8–0 run, tying the game at 36–36 on a Tom Beattie fast-break layup.
  • Stratton answered with a three-pointer from the wing to reclaim the lead, then Simon and Love added back-to-back threes for a 45–39 margin.
  • The Tritons clawed back as Emanuel Prospere II and Alex Chaikin each connected from deep to cut it to 47–45.
  • Veljko Muntilak hit a short hook to extend the Cougar lead to 49–45 before UCSD rallied again to tie it 49–49 midway through the half.
  • UCSD took its first multi-possession lead after Prospere's free throws and a Beattie three-pointer made it 60–53 with just over four minutes remaining.
  • Love converted four straight free throws to bring CSUSM within five, and Boone's tip-in dunk narrowed it to 62–60 with 1:06 left.
  • Stratton drained a three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining to pull CSUSM within one at 64–63.
  • After a defensive stop, Max Tengan hit one of two free throws with two seconds left to tie the game 64–64 and force overtime.
  • UCSD's Leo Beath scored the first basket of overtime with a layup for a 66–64 lead.
  • Stratton made one of two free throws to cut it to 66–65.
  • Aidan Burke split a pair of free throws to make it 67–65 UCSD.
  • Tengan again went one-for-two at the line to bring CSUSM within one at 67–66 with 2:46 remaining.
  • Burke converted a key layup in traffic to extend UCSD's lead to 69–66.
  • The Cougars had late opportunities but couldn't convert as UC San Diego held on for a 74–72 overtime win.

 
FAST BREAKS

  • CSUSM ended the night shooting 39.3% (22-of-56) from the field while UCSD clocked in at 43.1% (25-of-58).
  • The Cougars went 13-of-31 (41.9%) from beyond the arc while holding the Tritons to 7-of-27 (25.9%).
  • CSUSM led the way in total rebounds (43-39), offensive boards (12-8) and blocks (3-2) while UCSD had the edge in assists (12-8) and steals (9-2).
  • This was CSUSM's first game against UCSD since the Tritons' final year in the CCAA and NCAA Division II in 2019-20.
  • UCSD is coming off a 2024-25 season in which it made the NCAA Division I Tournament and won the Big West Conference Regular-Season and Tournament Championships.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will officially open the 2025-26 season by hosting Concordia University Irvine on Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. in The Sports Center.