Box Score: Coyotes 75, Chico State 61

SAN BERNARDINO -- High percentage shots paid off for Cal State San Bernardino as it fired a season-best 54.7 percent from the floor and glided past visiting Chico State 75-61 in California Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball Friday night at Coussoulis Arena.

Sophomore Kwame Alexander scored 15 points and hit all five of his field-goal attempts including two big-time dunks in the second half as the Coyotes improved to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the CCAA.

The Wildcats dropped to 9-4, 5-4 and are 1-3 on the road this season.

The Coyotes led from the outset, but led only 32-29 at the break. Despite missing six layups in the opening half, they shot 43.3 percent from the floor on 13 of 30 shooting.

Coaches make a point of saying the first five minutes of the second half can be the most important stretch of a ball game and the game was still in the balance when Damario Sims hit a jumper that cut CSUSB's lead to 36-34 with 16:56 left.

That's when junior Nate Roth stepped up big-time. He answered Sims' shot with a 3-pointer and after senior Corey Caston scored his first field goal of the night, Roth hit another 3-pointer and added two free throws.
 
CSUSB capped the 14-1 run that put it ahead 50-35 on senior Ryan Kinney's 3-pointer with 13:47 left.

Roth, senior David Jefferson and junior Theron Laudermill each had 10 points as CSUSB fired 69.6 percent in the second half for the win.

Caston dealt a season-high 10 assists with five points, while Kinney hit nine points -- all on the 3-ball -- and seniors Robbie Robinson and Aaron Hill had seven apiece.

Sims finished the night with a game-high 18 points.