SAN BERNARDINO – CSUSB men's basketball opened their season Friday and Saturday, with convincing wins in the CCAA-GNAC Challenge Tournament against regional opponents Western Oregon and Central Washington.
The Yotes Open Season with a 93-71 Victory Over Wolves
The Yotes have now faced the Wolves in three consecutive seasons, maintaining a flawless 3-0 record in those matchups. Friday's triumph marked the Yotes' most significant margin of victory over the Wolves, outscoring the visitors by 22 points.
Whether it was nerves or the energetic press by the Wolves, in the 14th minute of the game, the Yotes found themselves trailing by 12 points. However, layups by
Robby Robinson and
Evan Guillory, following Kris Cook's bucket that put the Wolves ahead, gradually chipped away at the Wolves' lead and initiated the dominant Yotes offensive play. The Yotes entered halftime with a lead of 44-36 and never relinquished it.
Sedrick Altman and newcomer
Chris Mitchell led the Yotes in scoring, each contributing double-digit points at 18 and 20, respectively. Mitchell, a transfer from Cal Poly Pomona, spearheaded the offense by shooting 8-for-14 from the field and sinking two of the team's six three-pointers.
Robby Robinson, a redshirt senior and returner from last year's Final Four CSUSB team, achieved a double-double in the game, adding 10 points and leading CSUSB in rebounding with three offensive and eight defensive boards. Altman and Mitchell also made significant rebounding contributions with nine and six rebounds, respectively.
The team excelled in finding their shots from the field, shooting 37-for-68, or 54.4%, in the game. Beyond the arc, the Yotes went 6-for-15, or 40.0%, accounting for 18 of their points from three-pointers. A notable factor in the Yotes' success was the 30 points contributed by the bench, with players like
LeAndrew Knight and
Sam Freeman combining for 21 points in the game.
The Yotes dominated the Wolves in the paint, scoring 58 points compared to the Wolves' 32.
Maintaining the lead throughout the entire second half, the Yotes concluded the game with a score of 93-71, securing their third consecutive victory against the Wolves since 2021.
The Yotes Silence the Wildcats Offense to Take a 73-48 Win
Senior guard
Sedrick Altman achieved a personal best as a Yote by scoring 22 points, leading the Cal State San Bernardino men's basketball team to a decisive 73–48 victory over Central Washington at the CCAA/GNAC Crossover Tournament in Coussoulis Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Yotes' defensive prowess was evident against the Wildcats, who had previously scored 84 points against fellow CCAA team Monterey Bay. In their previous game, the Wildcats had an impressive 53.1% field goal percentage and a 41.7% success rate from beyond the arc. In contrast, the Yotes' defense limited the Wildcats to 33.9% from the field and 19.2% from beyond the arc.
The Yotes' aggressive defense also translated into 20 points off turnovers.
Sedrick Altman and
Robby Robinson led the Yotes in scoring, contributing 22 and 16 points, respectively. Altman had a 60% success rate from the field, going 9-for-15, and a 50% success rate from beyond the arc, making 3 of 6 attempts. Robinson achieved a milestone by sinking his first-ever 3-pointer as a Yote, finishing 6-for-11 from the field and collecting 8 rebounds.
Chris Mitchell and
LeAndrew Knight also combined for 13 rebounds in the game.
Robinson also showcased his playmaking abilities with 5 assists, a personal record as a Yote. Despite only scoring 2 points in the game,
Evan Guillory proved himself as an offensive facilitator for the Yotes, recording the most assists with six.
The Yotes maintained their dominance in the paint, scoring 40 points compared to the Wildcats' 20.
Holding the lead throughout the entire second half, the Yotes concluded the game with a final score of 73-48, securing their sixth consecutive victory against the Wildcats since 2017.
