SAN BERNARDINO (Jan. 15, 2015) -- It might have been a case of Coyote Ugly for coach Jeff Oliver's crew in Thursday night's game against visiting Cal State Monterey Bay.

It's not often that you can win with 20 turnovers, but thanks to a period of hot shooting by junior guard Jacob Thomas, the Coyotes held off the Otters in a 69-66 CCAA men's basketball victory at Coussoulis Arena.

Thomas, who was held scoreless in the first half, got hot early in the second half. The Columbia Heights, Minn., native scored 15 inside the first 10 minutes of second-half play and finished with a game-high 19.

Senior G Isaiah Morton had 13 points and fellow senior G Taylor Statham added 11 for CSUSB, which snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 5-7 overall and 5-4 in the CCAA for their 12th consecutive victory over the Otters here in San Bernardino.

The Otters have never defeated the Coyotes inside Coussoulis Arena and despite the game having two ties and one lead change, the outcome was in the balance down the stretch. A layup from Gilbert Parga gave the Coyotes a 59-49 lead with 8:45 left and the game was seemingly in control by CSUSB.

However, the Coyotes committed six turnovers in the late going and that allowed CSUMB to climb back into the game. Evan Zeller scored seven points during a 15-8 run that pulled the Otters to within three points. Daye Turner hit a pair of free throws that got CSUMB to within three -- 67-64 with 50 seconds left.

After a Thomas 3-point effort was off the mark, CSUMB came right back and pulled within two points on Alex Fertig's two free throws with three seconds left.

On the inbounds play, Morton was fouled and he nailed two shots to give the Coyotes their three-point lead with 1 second left. CSUMB had a chance, but Thomas stole the ball at midcourt and time expired.

Thomas took just three shots in the first half and was 0-for-2 on 3-pointers in the opening half. But thanks to Taylor Statham, who scored nine of his 11 points in the first half, CSUSB led 31-28 at the break.

Once the second half began, Thomas lit it up with two 3's, a jumper and a pair of free throws -- all within the first three minutes of the half.

The Coyotes were worked over inside as CSUMB outscored them 40-24 in the paint. It could have been worse, except Oliver received stellar blocking efforts from Abdi Faras and Tevin Harris. Faras swatted away five blocks and Harris had three to keep the Otters at bay.

Both Everett Turner and Thomas had three steals.

CSUMB (8-7, 4-5) was led by Fertig's 16 points.

The Coyotes remain home this Saturday when they take on Cal State East Bay.