Box Score: Coyotes 59, No. 15 CSU Dominguez Hills 49
CARSON -- It's been a given that success takes place whenever a Jeff Olilver-coached team holds an opponent to less than 60 points.
That stat didn't come into play in Friday night's 59-57 loss at Cal State L.A., but in Saturday night's game at No. 15 Cal State Dominguez Hills, Oliver's team completely shut down one of the more powerful teams on the West Coast with a solid defensive effort and the Coyotes won going away, 59-49 in CCAA play.
Entering the 2010-11 season, Oliver owned an all-time record of 78-2 at CSUSB when his team holds an opponent to less than 60 points. That stat improved to 79-3 after a thorough victory that will give necessary momentum for the Coyotes, who are off next week due to finals.
Theron Laudermill led the Coyotes (2-2 overall, 1-1 CCAA) with 17 points off the bench and the Coyotes outscored the Toros (6-1, 2-1) an astounding 27-3 at the 3-point stripe.
The game's critical span occurred insde the final minute of the first half. Trailing 25-19 with 1:31 remaining, the Coyotes showed their outside prowess when they scored three straight 3-pointers inside a 40-second stretch.
Junior reserve guard
Nate Roth got the Coyotes on their way with the first three and senior guard
Aaron Hill followed 20 seconds later.
After a blown layup by the Toros' Tim McLaurin, the Coyotes held the ball for the final possession of the first half and senior guard
Corey Caston fired a three right at the buzzer that dropped through and the Coyotes rejoiced with a 28-25 lead at the break.
The Coyotes maintained that momentum right off the bat in the second half as they ran off a 16-2 run to begin the second half and led 44-27 with 8:08 left.
Senior
Ryan Kinney sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a free throw from
Donnel Fleming and Caston added five points including a three and CSUSB never trailed in the second half.
Caston had 16 points for the Coyotes and Kinney had nine -- all 3-pointers.
The Coyotes are off next week and return to the court when they take on Western Washington on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.
