SAN BERNARDINO – Despite
Udun Osakue's 22-point performance, the SF State Gators fell 77-58 to the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes this evening in a CCAA contest at CSUSB's Coussoulis Arena in San Bernardino. Isaiah Morton paced the Coyotes with a game high 26 points.
"We came out with a lack of energy defensively in the first half," said SF State head coach
Paul Trevor. "Offensively, we could not make shots to start game." "We played harder in the second half, but dug ourselves too big of a hole to dig out of."
Osakue also had 9 rebounds, 5 assists, a career high 5 steals and two blocked shots to go with his 22 points. The senior forward was 9-for-18 from the field in 38 minutes of action for SF State (8-9, 6-7 CCAA).
Jon McMurry chipped in 10 points off the bench for the Gators, who now are in a tie for seventh place with Sonoma State.
Cal State San Bernardino (7-9, 7-6 CCAA) moves into a tie for fifth place with Humboldt State with the win. The Coyotes are 6-0 and split the season series with SF State. The Gators defeated the Coyotes 68-53 on December 6 in San Francisco.
Morton finished the night 9-for-11 from the field including connecting on five of his seven attempts from beyond the arc. He also dished out six assists and grabbed three rebounds. Everett Turner added 16 points and 7 rebounds while Taylor Statham had 10 points for the hosts.
The Coyotes scored the game's first 16 points in the first five minutes of the game with Morton scoring 7 of his 26 points.
A dunk by Osakue stopped the Coyote run at the 14:17 mark of the first stanza. The Gators cut the deficit to 16-5 with Osakue scoring all five points, but the Coyotes built their lead to 28-8 in the next five minutes.The hosts took a 44-19 lead into the locker room at the half.
They started the second half increasing their lead to 56-38 on a jumper by Statham in the first six minutes of the new half.
SF State would not go away as the Gators twice cut the Coyote lead to 14 including on a lay-up by McMurry (71-57) with 1:27 left on the clock, but it was a little too late as the hosts took the CCAA contest, 77-58.
The Gators outscored the Coyotes 39-33 in the second half and also out-rebounded their hosts, 35-31, in the game. They also had 13 steals and forced 21 turnovers by their hosts. Besides Osakue's five steals, three Gators had two apiece in
Justice Howard,
Andre Jones and
Floyd Wormley.
SF State will now travel to Arcata, Calif., tomorrow to get ready for its CCAA showdown with Humboldt State at Lumberjack Arena this Saturday for a 7:30pm scheduled tip-off. Humboldt State defeated Sonoma State this evening 81-73. Earlier this season in December in San Francisco, the Gators defeated the Lumberjacks 67-58.
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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
