TURLOCK, Calif. — Stan State men's basketball continues CCAA play this week with a home-and-away series against Central Valley rival UC Merced. The Warriors will travel to Merced on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m., before returning to Fitzpatrick Arena to host the Bobcats on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. as conference action continues.

Warriors in Review
Stan State enters the week at 8–8 overall and 4–6 in CCAA play, averaging 72.3 points per game while allowing 72.1 through 16 contests. The Warriors are shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from three-point range, connecting on 7.3 three-pointers per game, while also holding a +1.7-rebounding margin at 34.9 rebounds per contest. Offensively, Donjae Lindsey leads the team in scoring at 13.0 points per game and paces Stan State in field-goal percentage (.563) and three-point shooting (.522). Malachi Johnson anchors the paint, leading the Warriors in rebounding at 7.6 per game and blocked shots with 16 while adding 12.6 points per game. Mark Jones III leads Stan State in assists with 39, while Lloyd French tops the team in steals with 18. Tahjae Ordonio leads the Warriors at the free-throw line, shooting 91.7 percent, as Stan State continues to rely on balanced production throughout the lineup.

Weekend Recap
Stan State went 1–1 at home last week, opening the Bay Area weekend with an 81–69 CCAA victory over San Francisco State before falling 71–57 to No. 7 Cal State East Bay on Saturday at Fitzpatrick Arena. The Warriors' win over the Gators was fueled by efficient ball movement and a strong second half, as Malachi Johnson recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds, Lloyd French added 18 points, and Jason Cibull scored 11 points. Mark Jones III and Cibull directed the offense, combining for 20 points, 12 assists, five steals, and just two turnovers, as Stan State totaled 21 assists and outscored San Francisco State 43–32 after halftime. On Saturday, Stan State continued to compete against the nationally ranked Pioneers, with Johnson posting 15 points and 11 rebounds for his third straight double-double, while French scored 12 points and Daniel Ameyaw and Cibull added 10 points apiece as the Warriors won the rebounding battle 38–35.

January Recap
Heading into this week, Stan State has posted a 3–3 record with all six games coming in CCAA play, as the Warriors continued to compete through the heart of the conference schedule. Stan State averaged 69.3 points per game during the month while holding a +2.3 rebounding margin and shooting 34.1 percent from three-point range. Malachi Johnson led the way with 14.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, totaling 87 points, 59 rebounds, and nine blocked shots over the six-game stretch. Lloyd French provided steady production on both ends, averaging 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while adding nine assists and eight steals. Jason Cibull contributed 7.3 points per game while knocking down 11 three-pointers, and Mark Jones III directed the offense with 27 assists, averaging 8.7 points per game during January as the Warriors continued to show consistency on both ends of the floor.

Warriors with Double-Doubles
Malachi Johnson leads the Warriors with five double-doubles this season and has recorded three straight entering the week. Johnson posted double-doubles against Cal State LA (14 points, 13 rebounds), San Francisco State (19 points, 10 rebounds), and Cal State East Bay (15 points, 11 rebounds), continuing to anchor the paint on both ends of the floor. Daniel Ameyaw has also recorded a double-double this season and now owns nine career double-doubles, highlighted by a 14-point, 12-rebound performance earlier this year. Lloyd French notched the first double-double of his career, finishing with 11 points and a career-high 12 assists.

CCAA Leaders
Stan State continues to rank among the CCAA's top teams statistically, sitting fourth in assists per game, assist-to-turnover ratio, and three-point field-goal percentage, while also ranking fifth in scoring defense and field-goal percentage. The Warriors are sixth in scoring offense, field-goal percentage defense, defensive rebounding, and rebounding margin. Individually, Malachi Johnson ranks third in the conference in rebounding and sixth in blocked shots. Jason Zimmer sits fourth in the CCAA in three-point field-goal percentage and three-pointers made, while Donjae Lindsey ranks fourth in free-throw percentage.

Ameyaw Climbs Career Rebounding List
Daniel Ameyaw continues to move up the Stan State record book, currently ranking fifth on the program's all-time rebounding list with 517 career rebounds. Ameyaw sits just three rebounds shy of fourth place, held by Brian Hall (1995–2000) with 520, as he continues to anchor the Warriors on the glass.

5–2 in Close Games
Stan State has been tested in tight contests this season and has responded well, posting a 5–2 record in close games. The Warriors earned close wins at Menlo (78–74), at Dominican (93–89), at Chico State (57–54), against Cal State Monterey Bay (79–77), and versus Cal State San Marcos (72–68), with their two narrow losses coming against Cal Poly Pomona (93–88) and at Cal State Los Angeles (57–56). Across those seven games, Stan State has averaged 74.7 points per game while holding opponents to 73.1, controlled the glass with 34.3 rebounds per contest, and shot 46.3 percent from the field while limiting opponents to 45.3 percent shooting. Malachi Johnson and Donjae Lindsey have led the scoring efforts in close games, with Johnson anchoring the paint on the boards as the Warriors have consistently executed in late-game situations.

Success in the Classroom
Stan State men's basketball also found success in the classroom during the fall semester, posting a 3.287 Stan GPA and a 3.293 term GPA, contributing to the department's overall 3.358 GPA. Several Warriors earned Honor Roll recognition, including Daniel Ameyaw, Jason Cibull, Malachi Johnson, JJ Funk, Antony Newman-Gomez, Caedmon Dickson, Jordan Smith, Jaylen Valdez, and Ross Widemon, reflecting the program's commitment to excellence both on the court and in the classroom.

CCAA Standings and Championship Format
As the CCAA enters the final week of the first half of conference play, Cal State East Bay sits atop the standings at 10–0, followed by Cal State Dominguez Hills (8–2) and Cal Poly Humboldt (7–3). Cal State San Marcos (6–4) and Cal State Monterey Bay (5–5) round out the top five, with Cal State San Bernardino also at 5–5. Stan State enters the week tied for seventh at 4–6 in conference play and 8–8 overall, alongside Cal Poly Pomona, Chico State, and Cal State LA. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top six teams in the conference standings will qualify for the 2025–26 CCAA Men's Basketball Championships at Kellogg Arena on the campus of Cal Poly Pomona.

UC Merced Update
UC Merced enters the week at 4–10 overall and 2–8 in conference play, coming off a 92–77 home win over San Francisco State last Saturday. The Bobcats average 68.8 points per game while allowing 72.4 and have been effective on the glass with a +5.2-rebounding margin at 35.7 rebounds per contest. Elijah Charles leads UC Merced at 15.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, while Sterling McClanahan adds 14.1 points per contest and has connected on 20 three-pointers this season. Pawllos Habtom (10.7 ppg) and Jaden Hubbard (10.0 ppg) provide additional scoring balance, with Hubbard shooting 90.0 percent at the free-throw line. Defensively, the Bobcats average 6.0 steals and 3.4 blocks per game.

Season Series vs. UC Merced
Thursday's matchup will mark the third all-time meeting between Stan State and UC Merced. The Warriors dropped the most recent meeting, an 86–83 overtime loss in Turlock on Nov. 23, 2024, despite a career-high 21 points and seven rebounds from Daniel Ameyaw. Stan State earned the first win in the series, a 90–64 victory in Merced on Nov. 26, 2013, behind 20 points from Marcus Bell.

Win $1,000 at Every Home MBB Game!
At every home men's basketball game, one lucky fan will have a chance to win $1,000 by making a half-court shot. Tickets for entry are $1.00 at the main entrance, and fans may purchase as many as they like. Presented by Hansen's Mobile Detailing, Strategic Legal Group, Turlock Floor Covering, and Luxury Limousine Service.
 
Listen and Watch
Both games will be streamed live on FloCollege. All Stan State home games can be heard on BlueChip Broadcasting, with Bryan Nelson on the call.  Both of this week's game versus UC Merced can be heard on BlueChip Broadcasting as Eric Davis will be joining Nelson both games.  They both will be inducted into the Stan State Department of Athletics' Hall of Fame this Saturday, January 24.

Up Next
The start of the second half of the CCAA season will see Stan State return to the road to continue conference play at Cal State San Marcos on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in San Marcos, Calif., before visiting Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m. in Seaside, Calif. The Warriors will then return home to Fitzpatrick Arena to host Chico State on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. on Student Affairs Night, followed by a matchup with Cal Poly Humboldt on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. on City of Turlock Day.