CHICO, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino men's basketball team put together a complete road performance Thursday night, defeating Chico State 76–62 in a CCAA matchup at Art Acker Gym.
With the win, the Coyotes improve to 9-9 overall and 6-5 in conference play.
CSUSB set the tone early, shooting 45.2 percent from the field in the opening half and building a 38–31 advantage at the break. Redshirt junior
Malachi Murrell (La Quinta, Calif.) was a steady presence inside in the first half, scoring six points while pulling down six rebounds, while freshman
Zion Paleo (Diamond Bar, Calif.) provided a spark off the bench with four points and two rebounds in limited minutes.
The Coyotes used ball movement and second-chance opportunities to control the first half, finishing with a 10-4 edge in second-chance points. Sophomore
Aidan Fowler (San Clemente, Calif.) helped CSUSB close the half strong, knocking down a late three-pointer as part of his seven first-half points.
CSUSB came out of the locker room firing in the second half, extending its lead to double digits just over three minutes in. Sophomore
Pablo Soumare (Dakar, Senegal) opened the half with a powerful dunk and finished the night with 10 points and an impressive eight rebounds, helping the Coyotes dominate the paint.
The Coyotes pushed their advantage to as many as 18 points midway through the second half, fueled by Murrell's work on the glass and efficient finishing. He finished with a game-high 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, adding 11 rebounds for a double-double performance.
Chico State attempted to rally behind Max Walters, but CSUSB answered each run with timely baskets. Fowler continued his strong night by attacking off the dribble and knocking down free throws late, finishing with 15 points, three rebounds, and three steals. Paleo added eight points and five rebounds, while junior
Elijah Edwards (Hemet, Calif.) chipped in eight points off the bench, including two three-pointers.
Defensively, the Coyotes limited Chico State to 36.8 percent shooting for the game and forced 13 Wildcat turnovers, converting them into 14 points.
CSUSB will return to action on Saturday, continuing its road trip against Cal Poly Humboldt. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
#GoYotes
