SEASIDE, Calif. – Not only was it the season opener, but it was an early regional matchup for the Western Oregon University men's basketball team when they faced Cal State San Bernardino Friday afternoon. The Wolves fought back and held a lead in the second half before the game ended up going to overtime. In the extra session, the Coyotes did just enough to hold off the Wolves, 82-78, as the game was played at a neutral site at the Otter Sports Center hosted by Cal State Monterey Bay.
Cameron Cranston started the year strong going for a game-high 25 points, while also adding seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in playing all 45 minutes. Yosani Clay provided a big spark off the bench going for 16 points and nine rebounds, along with three steals and three assists. Tyreek Price gave the Wolves three in double-figures scoring 13 points, connecting on a trio of three-pointers.
CSU-SB came out tallying the first seven points for the 7-0 lead just over a minute in. WOU answered with a 10-2 run over the next three-plus minutes to take their first lead at 10-9. Cranston tallied a couple of baskets during the stretch, along with a jumper by RJ Veliz, layup from Daisone Hughes and then a jumper by Elihu Cobb capped the run. The Coyotes surged back with a 12-0 run to open a 21-10 lead near the midway point of the opening half.
After trailing by as many as 13 at one point, WOU came storming back before halftime as they regained the lead at 35-34. Cranston connected on three straight free throws to help push the Wolves ahead. CSU-SB outscored WOU 9-2 over the final few minutes of the half to take a 43-37 lead into the locker rooms.
The Coyotes had the lead back up to 11 early on in the second half, just to watch the Wolves respond. A three-pointer by Cranston near the midway point of the half and then a dunk by Collin Warmouth at the 8:40 mark moved WOU back ahead at 61-60.
After that, the teams traded small leads down the stretch. The Wolves were still ahead by two at 71-69 on a dunk by Clay and it looked like WOU might hold on by two. Following a couple of defensive stops, the Coyotes were able to tie the game with 13 seconds left on an offensive rebound and put back by Brandon Knapper.
That left just enough time for WOU to try and win the game, but the shot just missed sending the game into overtime.
WOU scored first in overtime with Veliz picking up an offensive rebound and layup. CSU-SB rattled off the next five points to take a 76-73 lead two minutes in.
Price came through with a big shot on the next trip down the floor when he connected on a three-pointer to tie the game with 2:29 to play.
Just when it seemed like the Wolves had the momentum, CSU-SB came back with a layup and then following a defensive stop, hit a jumper with just 1:16 to play to open up an 80-76 advantage.
Clay had WOU right back in it with a layup just 18 seconds later to cut the deficit back to two. The defense held on the next possession, but a turnover and steal on the other end gave the Coyotes the ball back with just 11 seconds to play.
Forced to foul, WOU sent Eddie Davis to the line who hit both foul shots to make it an 82-78 lead with five seconds to play. All WOU could do was try a quick three-pointer with the seconds ticking down and as the shot missed, the clock expired with the Coyotes hanging on for the four-point win.
Overall for the game, WOU went 27-75 (36) from the field, 6-30 (20) from three and 18-24 (75) from the foul line. CSU-SB went 36-89 (40.4) from the field, 4-14 (28.6) from three and 6-14 (42.9) from the foul line. WOU held the edge in bench points (23-16) and fastbreak points (15-12). CSU-SB held the advantage in points off turnovers (25-18), second chance points (17-15) and points in the paint (62-34).
Four reached double-figures in scoring to lead the Coyotes as Davis, Knapper and Daytone Jennings all scored 16 points. Darius Mickens added 10. It was a double-double for Jennings with 12 rebounds. Darius Lubom, facing WOU for the first time as a member of the Coyotes, scored eight points, while adding five assists.
WOU will turn around and face the host school, Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday starting at 3 p.m. Central Washington defeated the Otters, 74-63, on Friday.
