Box Score

    Cal State San Bernardino, challenged midway through the second half by San Diego Christian College, went on a 21-4 run in the final 8:29 of the non-conference men's basketball game to defeat the Hawks, 70-51 before 255 fans Thursday night in Coussoulis Arena. 
    CSUSB improved to 3-2 overall while the Hawks, playing better than their record would indicate, are now 0-8. It was the team's third straight win after a home-opener loss to Concordia Irvine. The Coyotes are now 23-2 in their last 25 games in the arena. 
    Graduate student Bryan Leduc led the Coyotes with 17 points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes. Steven Gaston, a senior who became eligible this week, came off the bench to knock down 11 points and make four steals. Senior center Devon Davis had 10 points and five rebounds. 
    James Green led the Hawks with 14 points and seven rebounds. 
    It was hard to believe that the Hawks were winless. They broke on top 5-0 in the first minute of the game and led 16-15 at the 7:22 mark of the first half before the Coyotes went on a 9-0 run to take a 24-16 lead with 5:18 left on a layup by junior Corey Caston, just activated for the game. 
    The Coyotes went to the locker room at halftime up 32-24. 
    CSUSB upped the lead to 14 at 38-24 just two minutes into the second half on a pair of free throws by LeDuc and were up 48-34 at the 12:36 mark on a jumper by junior Ryan Kinney, but the Hawks refused to go away and rallied on a 13-1 run led by Green to trail 49-47 with 8:29 left. 
    However, the Coyotes hit another gear and three minutes later had elevated the lead back to 10 at 58-48 on a layup by David Jefferson. A pair of free throws by Davis at the 2:09 mark solidified the win for CSUSB, now leading 65-49. 
    The Coyotes shot 42 percent for the game (24 of 57) and just 29 percent from the three point line (5 of 17) while the Hawks shot 38 percent (19 of 50) and made just four of 18 from long range (22 percent). 
    SDCC did outrebound the Coyotes 38-33 but were hampered by 20 turnovers, 14 on steals by the Coyotes. CSUSB committed just six turnovers in the game. 
    LeDuc was four-for-seven from the field, made both of his three-pointers and hit seven of eight foul shots and grabbed seven of his nine rebounds on the offensive glass. Junior Aaron Hill and Caston each had six assists for Cal State San Bernardino. Jesse LeBeau had five assists for SDCC. 
    The Coyotes will host Vanguard University at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night.