SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Robert Hayes (San Diego, California, St. Augustine) tossed in a game-high 17 points to lead the San Francisco State men's basketball team to a 63-55 triumph over Cal State San Bernardino in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest Friday night at Coussoulis Arena in San Bernardino, Calif. The Gators won on the Coyotes' home court for the first time ever, snapping a six-game losing streak in the process to raise their record to 9-7 on the season and 3-6 in CCAA action. Meanwhile with the loss, CSUSB falls to 8-7 and 6-3 in league play.

 

"We played the last five minutes with poise and confidence," said SF State Head Coach Bill Treseler.  "I am proud of the perservance we've shown through a rough patch," added Treseler.  "We got it done on the defensive end and rebounded well."  "Darryl (Robinson), Rob (Hayes), and Brad (Visman) stepped up, but this was a team win through and through."
 
In addition to Hayes, who connected on 3 of 4 field-goal attempts from beyond the 3-point arc, the Gators also received a double-digit scoring effort from Darryl Robinson (San Mateo, California, San Mateo, Canada College), who contributed 10 points to go along with seven rebounds and one steal. Ryan Wessels (Napa, California, Vintage, Napa Valley College) got into the act as well, matching his season high with eight rebounds. As team, SF State dominated the glass, outrebounding the Coyotes by a 42-24 margin.

 

CSUSB grabbed an early 7-2 advantage before SF State rallied with a 12-5 run to go out in front, 12-10, capped by a Phoenix O'Rourke (San Mateo, California, Junipero Serra) layup at the 10:21 mark. Shortly thereafter, the Gators State enjoyed their largest lead of the first half at 18-12 after Martin Flores (Woodland, California, Woodland, Solano Junior College) hit a jumper with 6:53 remaining. However, the Coyotes responded with a 17-8 spurt to close the half, taking a slim 29-26 margin into intermission.

 

Trailing 35-31 in the opening minutes of the second half, SF State fought back with a 12-5 run over a 5:18 span to to go out in front, 43-40, on a jumper in paint by Brad Visman (Placerville, California, El Dorado, UC Riverside) at the 10:29 mark. However, CSUSB answered with two free throws sandwiched around a layup to take their final lead of the night at 44-43 with 7:29 remaining.

 

The Gators took control at this juncture with an 11-3 flurry, climaxed by a Hayes' triple, which gave the visitors a seven-point bulge at 54-47 with 3:12 left on the clock. Two minutes later, Robinson connected on a jumper and a foul shot, giving SF State a 59-49 cushion with 1:03 remaining.

 

The Coyotes pulled to within six at 61-55 with 30 seconds left, but Hayes promptly hit two free throws to put the game out of reach.

 

DuBois Williams was the only Coyote to reach double figures in the defeat, scoring a team-high 13 points.

 

The Gators continue their road trip through Southern California on Saturday, Jan. 24, when they square off against CCAA foe Cal Poly Pomona beginning at 7:30 p.m.

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