Coyotes experience tough night in 81-72 loss at SFSU

Gators go 19-of-19 from the free throw line

Corey Caston scored 13 points for the Coyotes against SFSU.

Box Score: SFSU 81, Coyotes 72

SAN FRANCISCO -- Corey Caston and Kwame Alexander each scored 13 points, but it wasn't enough as host San Francisco State was perfect at the line in 19 attempts and defeated the Coyotes 81-72 in California Collegiate Athletic Association men's play Friday night.

The Coyotes are 10-6 overall and 8-4 in the CCAA, while the Gators improved to 11-6, 9-4.

SFSU's Nefi Perdomo made up for a scoreless first half with 18 points in the second half and Winston Demmin scored a game-high 21 points as the Gators received scoring from only five players, but each earned double figures on the night.

For only the second time this season the Coyotes shot at least 50 percent from the floor and hit it on the nose this night, going 24 for 48.

The tell-tale signs showed at the free throw line and at the 3-point stripe. The Gators, who were 19 of 19, were outscored by the Coyotes from the line, but CSUSB was only 20 of 34.

And throughout the season, CSUSB has been highly efficient at holding the opposition from the 3-point line. The Coyotes entered the game ranked No. 3 in the country, holding opponents to just 27.9 percent. The Gators made sure that number will increase with a 10-of-24 efffort -- 41.7 percent.

The Gators scored six 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes of the second half and extended their lead to 14 points -- 59-45 on Demmin's jumper with 9:50 left.

Caston got hot late as he scored eight points with 90 seconds and pulled the Coyotes to within three -- 71-68 with 1:30 left. He hit six free throws and a layup as CSUSB got within one possession of tying the game.

But after Caston hit his sixth straight free throw in that stretch, SFSU's Marquel Hoskins followed with a tip-in and added two free throws for a 75-68 lead after the Coyotes' Ryan Kinney missed on a 3-pointer.

Theron Laudermill and Kinney each scored 11.

Alexander led the Coyotes with eight rebounds and junior guard Nate Roth dealt five assists.

The Coyotes will close the weekend at CSU Monterey Bay on Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

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