ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The CSUSB Coyotes kicked off the season with a 86-76 win over Concordia (OR) on the campus of Central Washington on Friday.
 
Newcomer Jeremy Smith led the Yotes with 22 points, as fellow newcomers Richard Laku and Jordan Mitchell scored 13 each.  Returners Daytone Jennings and Andres Villa added 12 and 11 respectively as five Yotes scored in double figures.
 
The Yotes led 37-31 at half and sustained adding four more to their lead through the second period.  Villa posted the double-double with 11 rebounds and Smith added five assists.  The Yotes shot 51 percent from the field as they shared the ball well, hit seven threes, and led on the glass, 41-31.
 
38 of those points were in the paint and CSUSB forced 20 turnovers for 24 points.  The Yotes actually trailed with 1:38 left in the first half, but finished on a 7-0 run to grab the lead.  The lead grew as big as 20 in the second half as the Yotes finished off the game.
 
"This was a great team effort and really good to get the season underway," head coach Andy Newman said.  "I was really proud of our fight. Understandably we have a lot of areas to improve in but that's normal for this time of year."
 
The Yotes will battle the host Central Washington tomorrow at 8 pm.  Live links are on CSUSBathletics.com.