SAN MARCOS, Calif. – With nonconference games concluding last week, the Cal State San Marcos men’s and women’s basketball teams will both open California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play this week. The Cougars will also host their fifth-annual CSUSM Homecoming Basketball Games on Saturday, Dec. 2 at The Sports Center.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Nov. 30 – 5:30 p.m.
CSUSM (0-4) vs. Cal State East Bay (4-4, 1-2 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
Live Stats | Cougar Sports Network
Saturday, Dec. 2 – 5:30 p.m.
CSUSM vs. UC San Diego (4-2)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
Live Stats | Cougar Sports Network
CAL STATE EAST BAY •The Pioneers hold a 4-0 lead in the all-time series with the Cougars.
•In the last meeting between these two teams, CSUSM dropped an 81-68 decision to East Bay in The Sports Center. Sophomore Brianna Porter tallied her second consecutive 19-point game and senior Savannah Camp chipped in 15 points.
•The Pioneers fell in their first two conference contests, losing to Cal State Dominguez Hills (80-79) and Cal State L.A. (63-52) on the road. CSUEB bounced back with a 59-49 win in its conference home opener against San Francisco State on Nov. 21.
•CSUEB has the worse free throw shooting percentage in the conference at 56.4 percent.
•The Pioneers were picked to finish second in the 2017-18 CCAA women’s basketball preseason poll, receiving three first place votes.
UC SAN DIEGO •The Cougars are looking for their first win over their crosstown rival, UC San Diego. The Tritons hold a 3-0 lead in the all-time series.
•In their last meeting, Camp’s 18 points proved not to be enough as the Cougars dropped an 84-60 decision at RIMAC Arena on Jan. 19.
•The Tritons went 1-1 in their home tournament last weekend, defeating Dominican 75-57 before falling to No. 17 Azusa Pacific 82-76.
•UCSD is recording a conference-best 47.8 rebound percentage in its first six games of the season.
•The Tritons were picked to finish first in the conference preseason poll this season.
CSUSM BREAKDOWN •At the UC San Diego Thanksgiving Classic, CSUSM fell to both No. 17 Azusa Pacific (84-69) and Dominican (82-76).
•Three Cougars are now averaging double-digits in scoring with senior Savannah Camp leading the way with 19.0 per game, followed by juniors Stephanie Custodio (12.0) and Baylee Olsen (10.0)
•The Cougars are holding their opponents to a 26.6 percent (17-of-64) from behind the 3-point line, second-best in the conference.
•In the 2017-18 CCAA women’s basketball preseason poll, the Cougars were picked to finish fourth this season.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Nov. 30 – 7:30 p.m.
CSUSM (5-1) vs. Cal State East Bay (3-4, 1-2 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
Live Stats | Cougar Sports Network
Saturday, Dec. 2 – 7:30 p.m.
CSUSM vs. UC San Diego (3-3)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
Live Stats | Cougar Sports Network
CAL STATE EAST BAY •CSUSM is 4-0 all-time over the Pioneers.
•In the last meeting, senior Ethan Alvano scored a team-high 27 points in a CSUSM 70-63 win on Feb. 18, 2017.
•CSUEB has won two consecutive games, taking down Notre Dame De Namur (71-68) and Holy Names (88-75) this past weekend at the NDNU Thanksgiving Tournament.
•Druce Asah leads the team in points (12.1) and made field-goals (27-of-60). The Pioneers are average 72.3 points per game.
UC SAN DIEGO •CSUSM has won the last two meetings and holds a 2-1 all-time record over the Tritons.
•The Cougars took down UCSD, 72-67, in La Jolla on Jan. 19, 2017. Five players finished in double-figures scoring for CSUSM including a double-double from senior Joe Boyd (11 pts., 14 reb).
•Christian Oshita leads UCSD in points per game (16.5), rebounds (5.2), made field-goals (36-of-71) and average minutes played (30.7)
•The Tritons are coming off back-to-back wins over Western Washington (81-73) and Alaska Fairbanks (80-56). They will host Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday, Nov. 30 in their CCAA conference opener.
CSUSM BREAKDOWN •The Cougars have won four consecutive games and recorded three victories last week over Azusa Pacific (78-57), Concordia (Ore.) (73-65) and San Diego Christian (93-64).
•Alvano (17.7), senior Josh Spiers (17) and junior Dalton Soffer (12.7) have all averaged double-digits in scoring in their last three games.
•Alvano leads the CCAA in scoring (20 ppg), assists (7.7), assist/turnover Ratio (4.6), third in steals (14) and fourth in field-goal percentage (56.2).
•CSUSM ranks second in the CCAA in points per game (84.1), steals (62), assists (119) and fourth in fewest points allowed per game (68.1).
