Men’s basketball sets new scoring record in season opener at PEAC Main Gym

VALLEJO, Calif. – Led by Alex Maze and his team-high 24 points, seven Keelhaulers scored double figures in Thursday's season opener vs. West Coast Baptist at PEAC Main Gym. Cal Maritime led by a game-high 60 points and cruised to a 135-76 victory as the team set a new mark for most points scored in a game in the program's recorded history. 

The previous record of 134 points took place vs. Northwest Indian College on December 30, 2019.

This is the second time in as many head-to-head matchups over the last five years that CSUM reached triple figures against the Eagles — the last two scheduled meetings, during the 2021-22 season did not take place due to COVID-related reasons — On November 23, 2019, Cal Maritime dropped 100 against West Coast Baptist on its home floor.

Cal Maritime was locked in from start to finish as they dominated every area of the box score. It forced 30 turnovers and converted those opportunities into 39 points and only gave up the ball eight times. CSUM outrebounded WCB by 11 (46-35), earned assists on 31 of 51 baskets compared to their opponent's 12 assists, scored 39 points in the paint vs. the Eagles' five.

The Keelhaulers' reserves were responsible for 62 points; nobody from WCB's bench recorded a point.

Maze scored 24 points on 9 of 12 shooting; DeAndre Minor hit 7 of 8 shots to finish with 16; Christian Togiai dropped 13 in his CSUM debut by hitting three of his four baskets from three; Jake Matteson finished a perfect 6-for-6 at the line and connected on 3 of 4 shots of the field to chip in 12 points.

DJ Henry, Daniel Andreyev and newcomer Nick Stone all ended the night with 10 points apiece as a balanced lineup helped Cal Maritime extend its lead with each passing minute after taking the lead for good with 9:32 remaining after Matteson's layup turned the Keelhaulers' one-point deficit into a one point lead.

Starting with that layup, Cal Maritime scored 12 unanswered points and never looked back.

As a team, the Keelhaulers shot 58 percent from the floor in the opening half, 51 percent after halftime and 55 pct. on the night. Even though the Eagles shot 45 percent overall, they took 37 fewer shots overall compared to CSUM.

Men's basketball will play its next eight games on the road, starting with Saturday's 7 p.m. game in Klamath Falls, Oregon, versus Oregon Tech.