Box score | CSUSM Presser | Chico Presser | Tournament Central

Cal State San Marcos is heading to the CCAA Men's Basketball Tournament championship for the first time in program history after an 80-66 victory over the No. 2 seed, Chico State.
 
Blake Seits and Alex Gil-Fernandez each scored 18 points to pace the Cougars. Greg Milton III added 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, and Jayce McCain had 10 points and seven assists. Malik Duffy scored a game-high 19 points, and Joshua Hamilton chipped in with 14.
 
The game was nearly even throughout the first half, with neither team ever leading by more than four points. Cal State San Marcos was up one at halftime (31-30). The game all turned in favor of the Cougars when they opened the second half on a 20-6 run to take a 15-point lead (51-36) with 14 minutes left.
 
Chico State battled back multiple times and cut the deficit to seven, including with 5:50 remaining, but Cal State San Marcos had a response each time. Milton hit a 3-pointer, and Gil-Fernandez made a shot in the lane to push the lead back to 12 (67-55), and Chico never got to single digits again.
 
Cal State San Marcos' ability to distribute and take care of the ball was also key in their victory. Chico State turned the ball over 14 times, compared to just five for Cal State San Marcos. The Cougars also had assists on 16 of their 27 made baskets, while Chico State had just six assists all game (21 made baskets). Those passes allowed Cal State San Marcos to shoot over 50 percent from the field for the game and .429 percent from 3-point range.
 
The Cougars will now advance to the CCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Championship game on Saturday, March 5, at 8 p.m. They will face the winner of No. 1 Cal State San Bernardino and No. 5 Cal State Dominguez Hills.