SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino men's basketball team rallied to defeat #19 Chico State 91-79 in a crucial late-season California Collegiate Athletic Association contest Saturday afternoon at Coussoulis Arena.

With the victory, the Coyotes advance to 18-5 overall on the season and 13-4 in the CCAA. The win breaks the deadlock between the Yotes and Wildcats in the CCAA standings, as Chico slides down to fourth at 12-5 in league play

Chico State ran out to an early 12-2 lead in the first three minutes of the contest, but the Coyotes battled all the way over the next nine and a half minutes to take their first lead of the contest at 25-24 on a pair of Evan Guillory (Springfield, Mo.) free throws. 

The teams would go back and forth over the final seven and a half minutes and head to the locker room knotted at 41-41. Junior Chris Mitchell (Oceanside, Calif.) led San Bernardino at the break with 12 points, while senior Robby Robinson (San Diego, Calif.) poured in 11.

The teams traded baskets in the early stages of the second half until the Coyotes pulled away. Chico held a 55-53 lead after a pair of free throws 7:09 into the half, but San Bernardino would answer with a 24-11 run over the next seven minutes to take command of the game. Mitchell scored nine points on the run and the Yotes shot 66.7 percent (8-for-12) to pull away. 

Chico got the deficit down to as little as five at 81-76 with 2:28 to play, but ended up running out of time as the Yotes surged away to claim the 12-point win.

Three Coyotes eclipsed 20 points in the win, led by Mitchell with 28. Guillory finished with a season-high 21, while Robinson notched 20. The trio combined to shoot 61.1 percent (22-for-36) from the floor. The only other Yote in double figures was senior LeAndrew Knight (Lompoc, Calif.), who posted 13.

Next up for the Coyotes, they will head on the road for a contest at San Francisco State on Thursday evening. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.

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