Box Score: Sonoma State 61, Coyotes 60 (click here)

ROHNERT PARK -- Sterling Arterberry converted a three-point play with one second left to lift host and 4th seed Sonoma State over the 5th seed Coyotes 61-60 in the opening round of the CCAA men's basketball tournament on Tuesday night.

The loss ends a disappointing year for the Coyotes, who finished the 2011-12 season 14-12 overall and will miss out on the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and only the third time since the 1998-99 season.

Senior guard Nate Roth led the Coyotes with 14 points off the bench with four 3-pointers. Junior forward Scooter Holmes had 13 points and was successful on his first six field-goal attempts. His point total and team-high seven rebounds were season bests.

Leading 60-58 with 11 seconds to go, senior Tre' Brewer was at the line for a one-and-one and a chance for CSUSB to extend the lead by four. But he missed the front end and SSU's Ashley Arnott grabbed the rebound. The Seawolves worked the ball down court and called time out with two seconds to go.

After play resumed, Arterberry hit a layup and was fouled by Theron Laudermill. Following a CSUSB timeout, Arterberry converted the three-point play to give the Seawolves (17-10) the win.

The Coyotes held the lead with five minutes to go, but for the fourth time in their last five games -- all on the road -- they could not hold on for the win.

Trailing 46-39 with 11 minutes left in the game, CSUSB picked up the intensity and gained much-needed momentum. Over the next six-plus minutes, the Coyotes went on a 16-2 run and led 55-48 when Roth connected on his fourth 3-pointer of the night with 4:46 left.

And that's when a familiar nemesis struck the Coyotes. Guard Will Olsem, who lit up the Coyotes for 38 points that included 12 3-pointers in January at CSUSB, hit his first 3-pointer of the night after missing on his first seven shots of the game and drew the Seawolves to within four points.

After Roth turned the ball over on the Coyotes' next possession, Justin Herold responded with a dunk and CSUSB clung to a 55-53 lead with 3:55 left.

Laudermill stopped SSU's spurt with a three-point play on a layup and a free throw and the Coyotes led 58-53.

Olsem then hit another three to get the Seawolves within a field goal, 58-56 with 1:32 remaining.

A CSUSB turnover and a missed shot from Arterberry gave the Coyotes the ball and Hakeem Washington put them back up by four -- 60-56 -- on a pair of free throws with 27 seconds left.

Arterberry cut the deficit to two with a layup and CSUSB led 60-58 with 15 seconds left that set-up the final scenario.

Laudermill had 11 points on the night and junior Kwame Alexander nine. Brewer, who scored a career-high 28 against SSU last Wednesday night in the Coyotes' 77-70 victory, was held scoreless on six field-goal attempts.

The Seawolves advance to the CCAA Semis on Friday afternoon at UC San Diego and will face top-seed and regular-season champion Chico State.

Herold led SSU with a game-high 24 points.