LANGLEY, British Columbia - The California State University San Bernardino men's basketball team defeated the Simon Fraser Red Leafs at the Langley Events Centre on Sunday evening by the score of 83-73.

With the win, the Coyotes improve to 2-1.

Things got off to a slow start for the Coyotes, with only seven points in the first eight minutes as the Red Leafs raced out to a 22-7 lead. Sophomore Aidan Fowler (San Clemente, Calif) and senior Javon Ervin (Tacoma, Calif.) were bright spots in the first half, scoring 12 and nine points, respectively. Simon Fraser held a 42-30 lead at halftime after shooting 15-for-27 (55.6 percent) from the field, including 4-for-6 (66.7 percent) from behind the arc.

CSUSB started to pick things up in the second half. Fowler picked up where he left off and scored seven of the team's first nine points in the half, including a bucket off a steal and an and-one. The Yotes brought it to within single digits from a three-pointer by freshman Zion Paleo (Diamond Bar, Calif.), the first of four in the second half. They would continue to cut the deficit and brought it to a tie after an and-one by junior Kaylon Mason (Fresno, Calif.). After the Red Leafs briefly retook the lead, Paleo hit his fourth and final three pointer which gave CSUSB the lead which they would not relinquish.

While Simon Fraser kept it competitive down the stretch, CSUSB kept scoring, which included an 8-for-8 at the charity stripe in the final minute-plus of the second half to seal the win.

The defense was much stronger in the second half for the Yotes as Simon Fraser went 10-of-27 (37.0 percent) from the field in the final 20 minutes. Fowler would end up with 33 points, whereas Ervin poured in 20 and Paleo added 12. Additionally, CSUSB only turned the ball over twice in the entire second half.

The Coyotes will have nearly two weeks of rest before starting things back up when they face Vanguard in a road contest on November 14. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.

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