CCSF WINS FIRST COAST NORTH UNBEATENS SHOWDOWN WITH BULLDOGS
Although the final result was perhaps as anticipated, College of San Mateo battled top-ranked City College of San Francisco for most of Wednesday’s Coast North showdown between early league unbeatens before falling, 91-70.
CCSF WINS FIRST COAST NORTH UNBEATENS SHOWDOWN WITH BULLDOGS
Although the final result was perhaps as anticipated, College of San Mateo battled top-ranked City College of San Francisco for most of Wednesday's Coast North showdown between early league unbeatens before falling, 91-70.
It was 47-45 for CCSF with 14:44 left after a 3-pointer by Kori McCoy. But the Bulldogs (12-4 overall, 1-1 Coast North) could not further narrow the 2-point gap. The Rams (16-1, 3-0) made a pair of baskets after that to maintain a margin. It was still within reach, however, at 59-54 after a 3-pointer by JD Carson with eight minutes left before the Rams mounted a decisive 11-2 run.
CCSF sophomore Naseem Gaskin had a season-high 30 points to pace all scorers. CSM got 18 points from usual leader Sam Manu. The sophomore out of Aragon High had started his community college career at CCSF in 2019, before returning "home" to San Mateo -- where he lives near the College Heights campus. Muti Shuman, the 6-9 freshman center out of Serra High, had his best performance with 11 points.
CSM coach Mike Marcial was pleased that his team competed well against the state favorite Rams. "They got some easy baskets off transition," he said. CCSF forced turnovers, scoring lay-ups -- although the quick Bulldogs defense negated some. Still the Bulldogs had some early leads – at the outset, at 14-12, and at 16-15 with 9:21 left in the first half. A 12-point run at that point put the Rams ahead for good – but not in complete command as the Bulldogs kept coming back.
CCSF has lost only once since its runner-up performance in the 2019 state championship game – to Coast South leader West Valley College in December. (The Rams were undefeated in the COVID shortened 2019-20 campaign, the last season of competition, and currently have a 12-game winning streak.)
Currently 15th ranked CSM, in only its second season since resuming men's competition in 2019-20, has one of the better teams in the state.
The only other losses were (twice) to state No. 2 Columbia, the only remaining unbeaten among the state's 100 men's teams, and to No. 9 West Valley. The Bulldogs, therefore, remain on track for a home state playoff appearance in late February. They will first get another shot at CCSF, in San Mateo, on Feb. 4.
UPCOMING: Cañada (3-12, 0-2) has the distinction of welcoming the Rams to its new Redwood City gym on Friday at 5 p.m. CSM will have its home opener at 7 p.m. against Foothill (4-12, 1-1). Skyline (9-6, 1-0) plans to return to action, hosting Ohlone (2-14, 0-3) at 5p.m. in San Bruno. Skyline and CSM have recorded their opening league wins over Cañada.