SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team (0-8, 0-2 CCAA) came up short in its CCAA home opener against No. 25 Cal Poly Pomona (6-1, 2-0 CCAA), falling 72-65 on Thursday night at The Sports Center.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Micah Boone – 19 points | 6 rebounds | 2 steals
Keavie Love – 11 points | 3 assists | 2 rebounds
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars got out to a 7-0 lead in the first two and a half minutes capped by a four-point play by Micah Boone. 
• CPP answered with a 6-0 run before the Cougars extended their lead to 14-8 on a 3-pointer by Donovan Watkins at the 12:34 mark of the first half. 
• The Broncos closed out the first half with a 7-0 run to take a 33-29 lead into the halftime break. 
• CSUSM shot 40.9% (9-of-22) in the first 20 minutes to CPP's 43.3% (13-of-30). 
• Seven different Cougars scored in the first half with Boone leading the way with nine points. 
• The Broncos achieved a double-digit cushion at 45-34 on a Kevin Simeth layup off a Cougar turnover with 16:07 to play.
• CSUSM whittled the deficit back down to six at 45-39 with 13:59 remaining after a Will Harris 3-pointer and two free throws by Boone.
• CPP took their largest lead of the game at 64-51 after Jaden Winfield made a layup and free throw with 4:06 left.
• The Cougars made a late 10-2 run and trimmed the Bronco lead to 66-61 with a tip-in layup by Boone with 1:04 to go.
• CSUSM was unable to cut the deficit any further as CPP ended the game with a 72-65 win.
• The Cougars shot 36.4% (8-of-22) in the second half while the Broncos came in at 54.2% (13-of-24) and six 3-pointers.
• CSUSM scored 11 points off CPP's eight second-half turnovers.

 
FAST BREAKS

• CSUSM concluded the game shooting 38.6% (17-of-44) from the field while CPP came in at 48.1% (26-of-54).
• The Cougars had the edge in rebounds (34-28), assists (12-11) and blocked shots (3-1) while the Broncos had the advantage in steals (8-7) and turnovers (12-19).
• CSUSM scored 15 second-chance points to CPP's eight.
• The Cougars' bench provided 28 points to the Broncos' 16.
• This was Boone's second 19-point game in his last three.
• The Cougars made a season-high 24 free throws on 27 attempts (88.9%).
• CSUSM has won the rebound battle in six of eight games this season.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will continue its three-game homestand on Saturday as it faces No. 19 Cal State San Bernardino (8-2, 1-1 CCAA) at 3 p.m. in The Sports Center.