ELLENSBURG, Wash. - California State University San Bernardino men's basketball completed a perfect weekend at the Central Washington D2 Tip-Off Classic with a 73-57 victory over Montana State Billings on Sunday afternoon at Nicholson Arena.
With the win, the Coyotes improve to 3-0 overall on the young season.
CSUSB took control early, opening a 14-5 lead after a three-pointer from sophomore Xavier Clinton and a hook shot from fifth-year Tane Prictor. Montana State Billings responded with a 7-0 run and eventually took a 27-25 lead with 3:19 remaining in the half.
Junior Aidan Fowler answered with a three-pointer to put the Coyotes back in front, and junior Chris Harris followed with two free throws. Fifth-year Trey Booker-Lowery then scored on a pull-up jumper in the final minute to give CSUSB a 32-27 halftime advantage.
Booker-Lowery led the Coyotes with eight first-half points, while Clinton added seven, and Prictor scored six. CSUSB held Montana State Billings to 34.5 percent shooting in the opening half and held a 23-23 tie in rebounding.
Junior Hassan Dorman, Harris, and Booker-Lowery helped CSUSB push its lead to 41-31 early in the second half. After Montana State Billings trimmed the deficit to four, Prictor scored on a dunk, Booker-Lowery added a dunk and a fast-break layup, and Dorman converted consecutive baskets to restore a 49-37 advantage.
The Coyotes continued to pull away behind their transition offense. Harris scored on a fast-break layup and added another basket, Fowler hit a three-pointer, and Booker-Lowery finished a second-chance opportunity with a tip-in dunk as CSUSB built a 61-45 lead with 7:15 remaining.
Harris scored 12 points in the second half, while Dorman added 14, and Booker-Lowery contributed 12. CSUSB shot 46.9 percent after halftime and held Montana State Billings to 30 points in the second period.
Booker-Lowery and Harris led CSUSB with 16 points apiece, while Dorman finished with 19 points, six assists, and three rebounds. Senior Devin Curtis contributed 15 points, four rebounds, and three steals, while Fowler added 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists. The Coyotes finished with a 44-39 rebounding advantage, scored 22 fast-break points, and shot 38.6 percent from the field overall.
The Coyotes return to action on Friday, November 13, against Point Loma at 4 p.m. at the Torodome on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills.
