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Cougars Fall to Golden Eagles in CCAA Opener

Thu, Nov 30, 2023

SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team (1-4, 0-1 CCAA) fell 76-65 in its CCAA opener against Cal State LA (5-1, 1-0 CCAA) on Thursday night at The Sports Center.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Charlie Henderson – 20 points | 6 rebounds
Mike Pope – 10 points | 1 assist | 1 steal
Jack Schultz – 9 points | 8 rebounds | 2 assists | 2 steals
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Cougars took their largest lead of the first half on a jumper by Edwyn Collins to make it 13-9 with 14:39 left in the period.
  • Tied at 23-all with 4:14 remaining in the first half, LA went on an 11-2 run to take its largest lead of the period at 34-25 on a layup by A'Jahni Levias with 22 seconds remaining.
  • CSUSM trailed 34-26 at halftime after shooting 35.7% (10-of-28) from the field. LA posted a 41.9% (13-of-31) field-goal percentage in the first half.
  • The first half consisted of 12 lead changes and four ties with LA leading for 12:20 to CSUSM's 4:36.
  • LA's Dominic Escobar led all scorers in the first half with 10 points. 
  • CSUSM began the second half on an 11-2 run of its own and retook the lead at 37-36 with a turnaround jumper by Henderson with 15:43 to play.
  • From that point to the 9:17 mark, there were eight lead changes. The Cougars took their final lead of the game at 48-47 on a layup by Camren Pierce with 9:33 to go before Corey Cofield gave the Golden Eagles a 49-48 lead with 9:17 remaining.
  • After a fast-break layup by Pope knotted the game at 52 with 8:35 to play, LA took the lead for good as Deuce Walker drained a 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles a 55-22 lead with 8:19 on the clock5
  • After LA built up a 62-54 lead following an Escobar 3-pointer, CSUSM clawed its way back with a 7-1 run to make it a 63-61 game after a Pierce jumper with 3:52 remaining.
  • That was as close as the Cougars came to the lead as the Golden Eagles jumped out to their largest lead of the game at 74-63 after a free throw by Shane Bell with 37 ticks on the clocks.
  • CSUSM shot 61.5% (16-of-26) in the second half while LA came in at 40.8% (13-of-32), but the Golden Eagles tallied 8 three-pointers and committed four fewer turnovers.

 
FAST BREAKS

  • CSUSM ended the game shooting a season-best 48.1% (26-of-54) from the field while LA clocked in at 41.3% (26-of-63).
  • The Golden Eagles made 12 3-pointers on 31 attempts (38.7%).
  • LA had the advantage in rebounds at 36-33 while putting up 12 offensive boards to CSUSM's five.
  • The Cougars tallied 15 assists to the Golden Eagles' 14.
  • Both teams earned nine steals.
  • CSUSM committed five more turnovers than LA (17-12).
  • The game featured 20 lead changes and seven ties.
  • Henderson led all scorers with a season-high 20 points.
  • Pierce tied his season high with six assists.
  • Schultz's eight rebounds tied his career high.
  • This was LA's first win against CSUSM since Nov. 30, 2019, snapping the Cougars' five-game winning streak against the Golden Eagles.
  • CSUSM still maintains the all-time series lead against LA at 8-6.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will continue CCAA play on Saturday as it hosts Cal State Dominguez Hills (5-1, 1-0 CCAA) at 3 p.m. in The Sports Center.