AZUSA, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, 85-76, to Azusa Pacific on Tuesday night.

CSUSM (10-1) erased a 17-point halftime deficit to tie the game at 63-63 with 9:40 remaining, but the Cougars fell victim to APU's (7-1) 13-5 run over the game's final 4:18.

It was the fifth game in the last eight days for CSUSM, and the fatigue was apparent. The Cougars' 41.9-percent clip from the floor was their lowest of the season, and the team hit just 6-of-24 3-pointers, also a season-low (25.0%).

Five Cougars finished in double-figures for CSUSM, led by Blake Nash's 23. Wade Collie and Tyson Kygar added 12 points apiece, while Dayton Boddie and Julian Camper each had 11. Collie and Declan Daly paced the Cougars on the boards with six each.

A 9-0 run by APU extended its lead from four to 13 midway through the first half. CSUSM could not find a response and APU went into the break ahead comfortably, 49-32.

However, CSUSM cut the deficit to 14 before putting together a 10-o run that made it 53-49. Nash hit a 3-pointer and followed with a layup, and Kygar capped the spurt with a three.

After his layup cut the lead to two, Nash picked the pocket of Troy Leaf before finding Boddie for a breakaway layup that forced a timeout with the scored tied 63-63.

APU answered with a 3-pointer and scored the game's next seven points to gain some breathing room.

Camper and Akachi Okugo responded with back-to-back buckets to edge within 72-71, but the Cougars were able to manage just one field goal over the final 4:32.

Leaf led APU with 24 points. Robert Sandoval contributed 11 points and nine assists.

CSUSM, ranked No. 3 in the NAIA, will be 10-1 when the first NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll of the 2014-15 season is released on December 9. The Cougars defeated five ranked teams during the month of November.

The Cougars have their first extended break of the season and will not play again until Saturday, December 13's tilt vs. Bethesda at MiraCosta College (7:30 p.m.).