Box Score: Coyotes 64, Cal Poly Pomona 55

SAN BERNARDINO -- Coaches emphasize the importance of the first five minutes of the second half.

If that is so, Cal State San Bernardino took heed as the Coyotes opened the final 20 minutes of play with a 10-0 run and they never trailed again in a 64-55 win over defending NCAA champion Cal Poly Pomona at Coussoulis Arena.

The victory improves the Coyotes' place in the CCAA standings as they share third place with San Francisco State at 13-7 with two games remaining. CSUSB, now 15-9 overall, owns the tie-breaker over the Gators this season should the teams remain tied after this week's games,

The two teams split their season series, but the Coyotes have a better record against teams ahead of them in the standings, owning a win over CSU Dominguez Hills. The Gators went 0-4 against league-leading Humboldt State and the Toros.

Sophomore Kwame Alexander and junior Theron Laudermill stood tall, literally and figuratively on this night against the Broncos. Alexander shared game-high honors with the Broncos' Kevin Menner with 17 and Laudermill had 15 points.

Alexander had his second double-double of the season with a season-best 14 rebounds.

Trailing at halftime has not been a good things for the Coyotes, who entered the game just 1-6 when behind after the first 20 minutes of play.

But senior guard Corey Caston got things going to start the second half when he hit jumper just 25 seconds in and that began the critical 10-0 run and the Coyotes never trailed again.

Laudermill added a pair of free throws, Alexander had a layup and senior Robbie Robinson had two free throws and CSUSB led 36-31 with 17:03 left.

Alexander added another layup to cap the 10-0 run, forcing Broncos' coach Greg Kamansky to call a timeout to stop the momentum.

Three times the Broncos closed to within a point, but CSUSB responded. The first two times, Laudermill and Alexander each hit two free throws and the third and final time, Alexander scored a layup that pushed the Coyotes out front 51-48 with 7:46 left.

CSUSB stayed out front and outscored the Broncos 7-1 over the final 4:54.

Senior David Jefferson had eight points and Robinson finished with seven.

Both teams were even from the field as the Coyotes were 21 of 48 from the field (43.8 percent), while CPP was 22 of 51 (43.1 percent). The difference was at the free throw line, as CSUSB outscored the Broncos 19-8.

CSUSB returns to Coussoulis Arena on Thursday night when it takes on Cal State East Bay. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES: The Coyotes improved to 86-3 all-time under head coach Jeff Oliver when the Coyotes hold their opponent to less than 60 points... The Coyotes are now 103-14 at home under Oliver.