Box Score CHICO (Jan. 10, 2015) -- Cal State San Bernardino battled back from a 14-point deficit, but fell short in its 75-72 overtime loss to host Chico State in CCAA men's basketball Saturday night.
 
Junior G Jacob Thomas continued to give the Coyotes solid offensive production, scoring a game-high 30 points with five 3-pointers and 9-of-9 free throws, and senior F Taylor Statham added 18 points with six rebounds for CSUSB, now 4-7 overall and 4-4 CCAA.
 
Both Thomas and Statham did all they could to get the Coyotes back in the game. They each scored 15 points in the second half, but Tevin Harris was the only other Coyote to score in the half with three points.
 
Down 59-52 with 6:02 left in the game, the Coyotes clawed back on two straight threes by Thomas to get within a point, 59-58 with 4:51 remaining.
 
Chico State answered with layups from Jordan Semple and Mike Rosoroso before the Coyotes answered one more time.
 
Statham added a jumper and two free throws from Thomas pulled the Coyotes to within a point again, 63-62 with 1:04 left.
 
Both teams committed turnovers before Rosoroso scored two free throws that put Chico up 65-62 with 13 seconds left.
 
On the Coyotes' next possession, Statham drained a 3-pointer to tie at 65-65 and the Wildcats missed on two opportunities in the final six seconds of regulation.
 
In OT, the Coyotes got their first lead of the game since the 17-minute mark of the first half when Thomas canned a layup that put CSUSB up 72-70 with 2:08 left.
 
Rosoroso answered with a 3, and he later added two free throws to push Chico State ahead by three, 75-72 with 28 seconds left.
 
The Coyotes had a shot to tie when Isaiah Morton was fouled with less than one second left on a desperation 3-pointer. He missed the first, but made the second, then missed the third in hopes of the Coyotes earning the offensive board and a potential game-tying field goal.
 
However, the round went to Chico's Robert Duncan as time expired.
 
Thomas finished 8-of-13 from the field, 5-of-7 3s for 38 minutes. Statham was 7-of-13 and 4-of-7 3s in 41 minutes. Harris finished with 10 as CSUSB finished 23-of-55 from the floor (41.8 percent).
 
Semple led Chico (8-5, 5-3) with 14 points and eight rebounds. The Wildcats hit 52.1 percent FGs and were 19-of-21 on free throws.
 
The Coyotes return to Coussoulis Arena on Thursday night when they take on Cal State Monterey Bay.