SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The San Francisco State men's basketball team earned the series sweep of Cal State San Bernardino with an 81-72 victory on Thursday night.
The last time the two teams played in the Bay Area, the Gators (11-6/7-5 CCAA) edged the Coyotes (11-8/7-6 CCAA) 80-76. In that game, Jiday Ugbaja dished out a career-high seven assists. This time, he took the ball to the rim himself for a career-high 31 points.
- SF State has won seven of its last eight meetings with the Coyotes.
- The Gators outscored the Coyotes 36-21 from deep on a season-best 60 percent (12-of-20).
- The Gators capitalized on their free throws, going a season-best 95 percent (19-of-20) from the charity stripe.
- Ugbaja scored his 31 points in 31 minutes. He added five assists and a pair of rebounds.
- Zane Paddon had his fifth double-digit game with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting with three threes.
- Jordan Balser tallied his third double-digit game over the last four games and fourth total with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting and dished out four assists.
- Ryne Williams grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
- SF State is now 6-1 when shooting 45 percent or better from the field.
- The Gators defense also held CSUSB to just one of its last seven three-pointers.
The scored was tied 11-11 at the first media timeout when
Vince Inglima's squad came out of the huddle on the attack. SF State drained three three-pointers en route to an 8-0 run and a quick 19-11 lead. The lead held until the seven-minute mark when Naradain James shifted the momentum to the home squad with a slam dunk to tie it at 22. A pair of Garrett Baggett free throws gave the Coyotes the lead. The deficit grew to as large as 10 but the Gators trimmed it to three at the half.
Balser pulled the Gators within a point on the Gators' first possession of the half and tied a couple of minutes later on Paddon's three-ball. At the 12-minute mark, Niquis Garland nailed a three-pointer to tie the game, then a Balser steal and jumper gave SF State its first lead of the half, 55-53. Tied 55-55, the Gators held CSUSB to 7-of-17 over the final 11 minutes. The Gators extended the lead to seven, only to see it shrink to two with under three minutes to play. Ugbaja powered the Gators down the stretch, scoring the team's final 10 points, including five in the last minute.
On Saturday, January 26, the Gators take on Cal Poly Pomona at 3:05 p.m. The women's and men's doubleheader will be broadcast on ESPN 3 as part of the NCAA Division II Showcase. Be sure to follow San Francisco State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram at @sfstate_mbb.
