Box Score SAN BERNARDINO – Momentum made its way in favor of the 14^th-ranked Coyotes on Saturday night as they held off visiting Cal State Monterey Bay 96-86 in CCAA basketball at Coussoulis Arena.
 
Senior Jordan Burris got hot inside a five-minute spurt when it mattered the most for Jeff Oliver's crew and allowed the Coyotes (10-1 overall) to earn their 10^th straight victory and remain unbeaten in the CCAA at 7-0.
 
Tied at 70-70 with 8:19 remaining, Burris scored 11 of his team-high 20 points that included a pair of 3-pointers, and fellow senior guard Lacy Haddock added a three of his own and CSUSB led 86-79 with 2:43 left.
 
The Coyotes fell behind early in the game (13-4), but came roaring back and led 55-44 at the break. The point total was a season-best first-half effort and the most points scored by the Coyotes in a first half in seven seasons.
 
But the Otters (4-6, 2-5) fought back and played terrific second-half basketball. They began the second half on a 15-4 run and tied the game 59-59 on Ryan Nitz's layup with 14:50 remaining.
 
CSUMB got as close as one point on two occasions and as late as the 6:02 mark, but Kirby Gardner pushed the Coyotes up 77-74 on a jumper during Burris' hot streak.
 
A glance at the final box score would seem to indicate the Otters were the team to beat. They outshot the Coyotes (53.4 percent to 52.4), shot 71 percent 3-pointers (12-17) and outrebounded CSUSB 37-28.
 
But CSUMB was outdone by its inability to hang on to the ball. The Otters had 20 turnovers and the Coyotes converted 18 points off miscues.
 
Burris finished 5-8 from the field with four 3-pointers and a perfect 6 for 6 on free throws. His eight rebounds were a team high.
 
Haddock was spectacular again. The reigning CCAA Player of the Week had 18 points on just nine shots. He had 12 assists – the third time this season he had double digits and his double-double was his third of the season.
 
Five Coyotes scored in double figures. Gardner had 14, Taylor Statham 12 and Juan Martinez 10. Sophomore reserve guard Zeke DeBlase had nine points -- all on 3-pointers.
 
CSUSB kept two of its streaks alive along with its winning streak. It marked the seventh straight time the Coyotes shot at least 50 percent and for the seventh straight game they have not trailed in the second half.
 
CSUSB had nine players in the scoring column and they contributed 22 assists.
 
Alex Fertig led the Otters with 30 points. Evan Zeller had 17 with a 5-for-5 effort from 3-point land.
 
Coyotes senior Andrew Young did not dress for the game. He sat out with an injured foot.
 
The Coyotes return to Coussoulis on Saturday night against Cal State East Bay.