ROHNERT PARK, CALIF. - On Thursday, February 29th, the Sonoma State men's basketball team concluded their 2023-24 season with an offensive explosion, recording a season high 94 points in a 39-point victory over Cal State San Marcos. The Seawolves were in the postseason hunt the entire season but a San Francisco State win last weekend over the Cougars officially put an end to their tournament hopes, missing out on the conference tournament by just a single game. Despite the tough ending, SSU came out on their home floor and put together a balanced offensive performance with five players finishing in double figures, sending the seniors off on a winning note.
Senior guard
Cameron Barry recorded his first double-double of the season with a team high 19 points and a career high 11 rebounds.
Julian Bryant continued his solid end to the regular season putting up 17 points and 9 boards. He combined for 42 points in his final two games. Senior forward
Pierce Rexford got the start in Thursday's finale and recorded a season high 12 points on 5-9 shooting.
Dillon Iyawe and
James Nobles rounded out the scoring for the Seawolves, combining for 27 points on the night.
Head coach
Rich Shayewitz and his group got going from the jump as they took a 13-4 lead after the first media timeout. They started 5-8 from the field and got early three balls from Rexford and Barry. All five starters got on the scoresheet in the opening five minutes of the game. At the half, the Seawolves led 42-21 holding the Cougars to just 31% shooting.
Julian Bryant had the exclamation point on the half with a transition poster off an outlet pass from
Damien Miller. He would lead SSU with 10 points and 4 rebounds at the break.
The Seawolves went on to lead by as many as 42 points and finished with a season high 94, shooting over 50% from the field and connecting on a season high 11 three pointers. SSU dominated the paint and the glass, also recording a season high 56 rebounds. Everyone got a piece of the pie with five players finishing in double figures and nine players getting their name in the scoresheet.
In very fitting fashion, SSU forward
Matt Williams III put an exclamation point on the season in the final seconds with an acrobatic putback slam to send the crowd and bench into a frenzy. Williams finished with 7 points and 5 rebounds off the bench.
Sonoma State finishes just one spot outside the conference tournament in 7th place, with an overall record of 15-13 and 11-11 in conference play. Their 65.5 opponent points per game ranks second in the CCAA and 14th in all of Division II. Head coach
Rich Shayewitz and the men's basketball program continue to trend in the right direction after making the conference tournament last season for the first time since 2017 and being in the heat of the postseason race once again this season. All-conference teams and awards will be announced next week prior to the CCAA tournament. Congratulations to the SSU men's basketball program on a great season and to all of our graduating seniors for proudly representing Sonoma State.
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