SAN BERNARDINO (Jan. 22, 2016) -- Darryl Adigwu found himself alone, parked just outside the right wing in front of the bench with Friday night's game against Cal State L.A. on the line.
Adigwu ripped a game-winning 3-pointer with 5 seconds left and the Coyotes came-from-behind in a 58-56 win over the Golden Eagles in CCAA play at Coussoulis Arena.
CSUSB, now 6-9 overall and 3-8 in the CCAA, completes the weekend Saturday at home against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
This was a victory that seemed highly improbable for coach
Jeff Oliver's team, especially considering that it trailed by 12 with 9:29 remaining, and 10 with five minutes to go.
A four-point play by
Juan Martinez got the rally going, and another 3-pointer by Martinez cut the Coyotes deficit to five, 55-50, with 3:37 left.
Junior
Everett Turner completed a three-point play, and
Keith Smith later scored a pair of free throws and the Coyotes and Golden Eagles were tied at 55-55 with 40 seconds to go.
After an errant shot by CSULA's Duce Zaid, Turner grabbed the rebound and then found an open Adigwu in the corner, who hit the 3-pointer and the Coyotes owned the lead on the strength of an 11-0 run that took only three and a half minutes.
CSUSB then fouled Jonathan Davis to thwart any type of 3-point shot. He hit the front end, but missed the second and
Desi Barmore controlled the rebound.
Barmore went to the line after he fouled with four seconds. His toss was off and Martinez grabbed the rebound and ran out the clock for the win.
CSUSB, which was outrebounded 44-23, was stellar in points off turnovers. The Coyotes scored 20 points off 16 Golden Eagles miscues.
Smith led the Coyotes with 18 and Martinez 17 -- both season highs.
Zaid led the Golden Eagles with a double-double -- 17 points and 13 rebounds.