Box Score ROHNERT PARK -- Sophomore
Jamari Simmons has been aces all season long for the Coyotes from outside the 3-point stripe.
On Friday night, the San Bernardino native keyed the Coyotes' attack with a career-high 22 points off the bench with a season team-high six 3-pointers in Cal State San Bernardino's 78-71 win over host Sonoma State in CCAA basketball.
The seven-point victory pushes the Coyotes to 11-3 overall and 9-2 CCAA with their third straight victory and kept CSUSB unbeaten on the road in league play wtih its sixth straight win away from Coussouliis Arena.
In the opening half, senior
Kwame Alexander accomplished a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. That effort helped keep the Coyotes ahead the entire first half as they outscored the Seawolves 14-1 in a four-minute stretch, then withstood a SSU rally that drew the Seawolves to within four points at the half, 32-28.
Sonoma State built leads of five and six in the second half, but the Coyotes responded when
Brian Goins, who did not play the entire first half, scored consecutive jumpers and Simmons hit a 3 to push CSUSB ahead 54-52 with 7:23 left.
The game was tied three more times until Alexander brought down a dunk on a feed from Simmons that put CSUSB up for good, 61-59 with 5:16 left.
Alexander finished with 15 points and tied his career-high with 14 rebounds. Goins had 10 points in 16 minutes of work.
The Coyotes fired 27 of 63 from the field for 42.9 percent. They scored 11 3-pointers -- the sixth time this season they have scored 10 or more 3s.
SSU, which fired 50.9 percent from the floor, was led by Justin Herold's 19 points. The Coyotes held sharp-shooting Will Olsem to just five points and only one 3-pointer. Last season in San Bernardino, Olsem scored 38 points including 12 3s, the most 3s ever scored against CSUSB.
GAME NOTES: The Coyotes improved to 9-1 when they score 25 or more field goals and 8-1 when they own a double-digit lead... CSUSB is 10-1 and unbeaten in eight CCAA games when they score at least 70 points... The Coyotes, who are the NCAA's leader in turnovers per game, gave up nine miscues in the first half, but came back masterfully in the final 20 minutes with just two... Simmons is 36 of 80 on 3-pointers (45 percent)... The Coyotes are now 8-0 when leading with 5 minutes remaining in regulation.