It wasn't really close, as the Trinity Western University men's basketball team took one on the chin Tuesday night at Mira Costa College in Oceanside, Calif.

The Spartans fell 83-60 to the Cal State San Marcos Cougars in the opening game of the CSUSM Holiday Classic.

The Cougars are the 15th-ranked men's hoops team in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

"Our youth is catching up to us. We are giving up too many turnovers, which are resulting in transition points for the other team. We continually have to play catch up ball," TWU head coach Scott Allen said. "These games are defining us and it needs to change quickly for us to get to where we need to be."

The Cougars used a 24-12 edge in turnovers to earn 27 points off of TWU errors.

The Spartans, who trailed 41-27 at the half, were led by Taylor Heinrichs with 13 points and eight rebounds, Eli Mara with 11 points, and Denny McDonald with 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Cougars had a career performance from point guard Danny Redmon who went 10-of-15 for a career-high 26 points while adding five boards, three assists, and four steals.

TWU was in the contest early and only trailed CSUSM by one point, 26-25, but the Cougars closed the opening half on a 13-2 run over the final 7: 38 to take the 41-27 lead into the break.

The lead stretched to 23 points, 61-38, eight minutes into the second stanza and the Spartans were never able to get back within 16 points the rest of the way.

TWU faced John Brown Wednesday. Results were not available due to press deadlines.