Box Score Box Score: Coyotes 90, UC San Diego 82

SAN BERNARDINO -- Coach Jeff Oliver's Coyotes came alive in the second half and posted their best field goal percentage effort in three seasons as CSUSB defeated UC San Diego 90-82 in the CCAA opener for both teams Saturday night.

The Coyotes fired 57.9 percent from the floor on the strength of 19 of 29 shooting in the second half as CSUSB fought back from a 12-point deficit in the first half to post the victory over the Tritons.

The field goal effort is CSUSB's best since hitting 61 percent (33-54) in a 95-55 win over Cal State Monterey Bay on Feb. 26, 2010.

Junior guard Brian Goins led the Coyotes and tied for game-high scoring honors with 24 points. He was 9 of 16 field goals, dealt four assists, had three steals in 40 minutes of work. Sophomore Jamari Simmons and junior forward Joshua Gouch each scored 16 points in reserve roles as CSUSB featured five playes in double digits -a first since the season opener versus BYU Hawaii on Nov. 16, 2010.

UCSD (1-3, 0-1 CCAA) grabbed the lead in the first half and built a lead to 12 on the back of senior Justin Brue, who was 7 of 9 from the floor and had 14 points at the break. Brue's layup with 8:09 remaining in the opening half put the Tritons up 25-13.

But senior Johnny Bell answered that deficit with a layup and the Coyotes outscored UCSD 12-4 in the next four minutes and trailed by only three, 34-31 at the break.

Trailing 42-37 with 16:03 to play, CSUSB tied the game three times before pulling ahead for good, thanks to Simmons. The San Bernardino native hit two free throws, then hit three consecutive 3-pointers and the Coyotes led 61-51 with 10:08 left.

Twice UCSD got within six inside the final six minutes, but layups from Goins and sophomore Taylor Statham pushed the lead back to eight, the last at 78-70 with 2:15 left.

Senior center Pablo Genevo and junior Lacy Haddock each had 10 points.

The Coyotes outscored the Tritons 30-6 from the 3-point stripe as six different players hit from outside.  

Brue shared game-high honors with Goins with 24. James McCann had 21.

CSUSB returns to Coussoulis Arena on Friday night when it takes on Cal State Dominguez Hills.

GAME NOTES: The Coyotes have scored 10 or more 3-pointers consecutively for the first time since the 2008-09 season... The 12-point deficit is the largest in a victory since CSUSB won its season opener last year after trailing by 13 against Westmont... Coach Jeff Oliver improved his all-time record against UCSD to 18-5 and extends the Coyotes' winning streak over the Tritons to eight straight.