SAN FRANCISCO– Behind a total team effort the SF State Gators defeated the visiting Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes 74-57. The Gators had four players score in double digits led by
Jon McMurry and
Warren Jackson each with 15 points.
Damien Rance added 12 points while
Brantley Bynum chipped in 10.
"It was nice to bounce back from last night and we competed as a team, said SF State head coach
Paul Trevor. We did a great job of executing on offense and on defense. It was nice seeing
Jon McMurry and
Damien Rance knock down some shots and played as a unit."
SF State (8-5, 2-5 CCAA) held the Coyotes to just 40% shooting from the field including 31% from three-point land while forcing 16 turnovers. The Gators recorded 11 steals as a team including two each from Bynum and McMurry. The Gators also had 13 assists (6 from
Floyd Wormley) and out-rebounded their guests 38-23 with McMurry and Rance each with 6 rebounds to lead the way.
Cal State San Bernardino (4-8, 1-7 CCAA) was paced by Everett Turner with a game high 18 points while Keith Smith chipped in 13.
SF State's bench outscored the Coyotes 39-11 with McMurry, Rance and
Treaven Duffy combining for 34 points.
The first half was evenly played until the Gators jumped out to a 22-15 lead with 7:25 left in the half. A lay-up by Rance increased the Gator lead to 14 (31-17) with less than three minute left in the first stanza.
The Coyotes finished the half on an 8-0 run capped by a three by Turner to cut the deficit to 31-25 heading into the locker room.
The guests cut the Gator led to just three on their first possession of the second half on a three by Darryl Adigwu. A three by
Coley Apsay capped an 11-5 run by the Gators as they increased their lead to 42-33 in the first four minutes of the new stanza.
The Coyotes would not go away as they went on a 6-0 run to cut the Gator lead to 42-39 in the next minute, but back to back buckets by McMurry and Rance capped an 8-0 run by the Gators to increase their lead to double digits (50-39).
SF State kept their pressure on as the Gators increased their lead to 62-46 on a free throw by Duffy. The Coyotes' Turner hit a three to cut the hosts' lead to 62-49, but the Gators went on a 7-0 run capped by a Duffy lay-up to give SF State its largest lead of the game (68-59) with three minutes left in regulation. The Gators took the CCAA home conference game, 74-57.
McMurry finished the night 5 of 10 from the field including 4 of 7 from three-point land. He also had six rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot. Jackson was 7 of 14 from the field while Rance went 6 of 8 from the field.
The Gators will be back on the road for a pair of conference games. SF State will travel to Chico, Calif., for a 7:30pm scheduled tip-off with No. 20 Chico State this Friday, January 15. The Wildcats defeated the Gators 74-67 on December 4 in San Francisco. They will then travel to Turlock a week from tonight for another 7:30pm scheduled tip-off, this time with the Stanislaus State Warriors. SF State lost to 68-52 to the Warriors at home on December 5.
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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.
