SAN FRANCISCO – The CSUSB Coyotes started 2020 by picking up an impressive road victory with a 77-68 win at San Francisco State on Thursday night.
 
The Yotes built a 46-42 halftime lead, and grew that lead out large enough in the second half to quell any Gator runs.  Jordan Mitchell and Jeremy Smith led the team with 17 points each, Richard Laku joined them in double figures with 14.  Daytone Jennings added nine and Smith and Mitchell were also the team leaders with seven rebounds each.
 
Smith added five assists as the Yotes shot 41.3 percent from the field and 52.4 percent with 11 made threes.  CSUSB only committed 10 turnovers and scored 20 points off 14 SFSU giveaways.  As usual the Yotes controlled points in the paint, 30-20.

"I'm really happy with the result tonight. I thought our guys showed a lot of toughness and took a great effort from SFSU and still managed to find a way to win," head coach Andy Newman said. "Tyrell Henderson's effort on the defensive end saved us tonight for sure. Really happy to have him as a Coyote!"

Henderson had three steals and six rebounds for the Coyotes, who led by as much as eight and most of the way in the first half, taking a four-point advantage to the locker room.  In the second half they expanded that lead to 16 on a layup from Laku at the 13:15 mark.  The SFSU response got no closer than five as the Yotes secured th win.

 
They will look to make it five in a row on Saturday as they travel to Sonoma State for a 3 pm game.  Live links are on CSUSBathletics.com.