On Dec. 3 CSUSM men’s basketball fell to Chico state 80-68 in the first homecoming game in the Sports Center, marking their first home loss of the season.

In front of a packed stadium, the Cougars kept on the hip of the Wildcats with a score of 7-7 to start the game. A 10-0 run from the Wildcats advanced the lead to a score of 17-7.  

At the end of the first half, the Cougars went on a 5-0 run of their own. A three-point buzzer-beater by junior Ethan Alvano brought the score to 40-32 at halftime.

In the second half, Chico State put up another 40-point half on the Cougars, and soundly defeated CSUSM.

“We need to play and apply our best effort on defense for all 40 minutes and we can’t take plays off, especially against a good team like Chico,” said junior Joe Boyd.  “I think we are really good we are just figuring and working out the little things like communicating on and off the ball but our ceiling is unbelievably high.”

Boyd shot 62 percent from the field and dropped a team high 21 points and 11 rebounds to capture his fourth double-double of the season. With 18 points, Alvano was the only other Cougar to scored double digit points. Additionally, Alvano led the team with six assists.

“Credit to the coaches and to the guys … Once we figure out the system and a lot of the principles, we can obviously beat and compete with the best of them,” Alvano said.  “Even though we can’t compete in the postseason, I think this team can definitely win the conference. We just have to keep moving forward, keep grinding, keep working and keep getting better everyday.”

The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference loss to Chico State drops the Cougars to a 1-2 conference record and a 5-3 overall record.  The Cougars host Life Pacific on Dec. 7 in their next CCAA matchup.