SAN FRANCISCO--- The SF State Gators improved to 14-9 overall and 8-9 in the CCAA with a 73-71 victory over the visiting Cal State San Marcos Cougars this evening at The Swamp at The Don Nasser Family Plaza. With the victory, SF State stays in the sixth spot for the CCAA Basketball Championships 1.5 games out of the fifth spot held by Cal State Monterey Bay.
Warren Jackson paced the victors with 20 points, which tied his season high. He connected on a season high 8 field goals in 14 attempts. The sophomore transfer was 2-for-5 from three's and a perfect two for two from the line. He also had two assists, five rebounds and one steal.
Treaven Duffy recorded his first double-double as a Gator with 17 points and 11 rebounds (career high) while recording two steals and dishing out one assist. Duffy shot 7 of 11 from the field, making his only three and was two-for-three from the line.
Brantley Bynum added a season high 12 points and 7 rebounds.
SF State show is now 14-2 when the Gators score 70 points or more held its guests to just 42% shooting including 38% in the first half. They also outrebounded the Cougars 42-27 led by Duffy's 11, Bynum's 7 and
Andre Jones with 6. The Gators forced 13 turnovers with 8 coming on steals (two each by Duffy and Wormley).
Of the Gators' 28 baskets, 11 came off of assists (three each by
Coley Apsay and Wormley).
The Cougars (12-9, 9-6 CCAA) scored the game's first 9 points of the game in the first three minutes before Duffy's lay-up stopped the run by the visitors at the 16:32 mark.
Ben Dickson's jumper gave the Cougars a 13-2 lead just five minutes into the game.
SF State outscored its visitors 25-12 in the next nine minutes to take a 27-25 lead on a lay-up by Jones off an assist from Wormley.
A three by Taran Brown gave the Cougars back the lead, 28-27, but the Gators went on a 10-3 run in the final five minutes to take a 38-30 lead into the locker room.
Cal State San Marcos scored the new half's first five points to cut the deficit to 38-35, but the Gators followed that with a 6-2 run capped by a Duffy lay-up off a steal to give the hosts a 42-37 lead.
Back to back three's by Andrew Bournes and Brown tied the game at 46-46 for Cal State San Marcos with 14 minutes left in the game.
The Gators retook the lead on a jumper by
Jon McMurry, but Cal State San Marcos took a 58-54 lead with just under ten minutes left in the game.
A mini 4-0 run by SF State with a lay-ups by Jackson and Duffy tied the game at 58-58. The Cougars then scored the next four points to give them a 62-58 lead with seven minutes to go.
An old-fashioned three-point play by Jackson capped a 5-0 run by the Gators to give them a 65-54 lead. The Gators increased their lead to 70-64 on a three by Jackson with 2:55 on the clock.
Cal State San Marcos wound not go away as they cut the margin to 70-69 on a three by Brown with 90 seconds left in regulation. Two free throws by Wormley increased the Gator lead to 72-69, but Darnell Taylor hit a lay-up for the Cougars to cut the deficit to one again (72-71) with just 17 seconds on the clock.
Apsay went 1-for-2 from the line to give SF State a 73-71 lead with just 10 seconds to go in the game. Cal State San Marcos had a chance to tie the game, but its shot fell short and Bynum recorded the defensive rebound to preserve the 73-71 victory.
Brown had a game high 25 points for the Cougars and Akachi Okugo added 17 points for Cal State San Marcos.
SF State will return to court on Saturday, February 20 at 7:30pm, when the Gators host Sonoma State in their home finale. Prior to the game, SF State will recognize its four seniors in
Justice Howard,
Andre Jones,
Jon McMurry and
Floyd Wormley in a brief ceremony.
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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
