By Morris Phillips

Among the knowledge Cuonzo Martin’s newest group of student-athletes needed to absorb on Thursday evening was the unique acronym born in suburban San Diego 25 years ago that reads “CSUSM.” Emblazoned on the Bears’ opponent’s royal blue and white trimmed jerseys, Martin’s pre-game directives probably went something like this: “don’t try to pronounce it, but watch it closely for screens being set, and in the process of avoiding damaging charges, especially in the paint near the hoop.”

Exhibition games for elite Division I programs mean two things, and two things only: win, and don’t get hurt. At Haas Pavilion, the Bears did just that, beating Cal State San Marcos, 74-52, in the second and final tune up for the upcoming season that begins next Friday against Alcorn St.

Tyrone Wallace and Jabari Bird led the Bears with 13 points each as Martin got 12 guys into the game, with starting guard Jordan Mathews playing a team-high 27 minutes. The Bears shot 49 percent from the field and led by 15 points at halftime. The Bears enjoyed a slight edge on the glass, out-rebounding the Cougars 36-29.

“I think we weren’t in a very good rhythm at the beginning of the game, we were just standing around too much and no movement,” Wallace said. “Once we got used to it and we had been practicing against the zone, we got settled in and were able to find guys in rhythm and find shots.”

San Marcos was led by Julian Camper with 11 points, but the senior forward missed nine of his 14 shots from the field. Despite the poor showing, the NAIA Cougars are expected to be a force at that level this season, with a No.3 national pre-season ranking. San Marcos played without two seasoned, Division I players, Santa Barbara transfer Taran Brown and Tony Freeland, formerly of Long Beach State.

The 43-year old Martin was hired in the off-season to replace Mike Montgomery, who coached the Bears for six seasons. Martin, the former Purdue player and assistant coach under legendary Gene Keady, has coached six seasons at the Division I level—three seasons at Missouri State and the last three at Tennessee, where his Volunteers won a pair of NCAA tournament games last spring.

Cal returns Mathews, Bird and Wallace along with senior forward David Kravish from a team that 21-14 in 2013-2014.

The Bears extended an 18-point, second half lead with a 12-0 run that had them up 30 points with 10 minutes remaining. The Cougars hit four three-pointers down the stretch to regain some measure of respectability.

“From start to finish, we did a great job,” Martin said. “For the most part we did a great job defending—for about a two to three-minute stretch—I thought our guys maintained a level of discipline on both sides.”