MONMOUTH, Oregon --- The Western Oregon men's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start and fell to No. 9 CSU San Bernardino 76-64 in its season opener Friday night at New PE Building.
The Wolves (0-1 overall) fell behind 14-0 to start the game, missing their first seven shots before
Yosani Clay drained a 3-pointer at the 15:57 mark to make it 14-3.
WOU cut the Yotes' (1-0) lead in half at 19-12 after another Clay 3-pointer at the 12:17 mark, but wouldn't get closer the rest of the contest.
The Wolves actually outshot CSUSB in terms of field goal percentage (42.6 percent compared to 36 percent for the Yotes) but 20 WOU turnovers, 19 CSUSB offensive rebound and the Yotes going 10-for-22 from 3-point range (compared to WOU going 5-for-17) was the difference.
Clay finished with 15 points and five rebounds for the Wolves, going 4-for-8 from 3-point range.
Cameron Cranston finished with 15 points while
John Morrill-Keeler had 12 points and eight rebounds.
Elihu Cobb had a team-best four blocks to go along with five points in 15 minutes of action.
Dontrell Shuler led CSUSB with 26 points - 20 coming in the first half.
WOU looks to bounce back 7:15 p.m. Saturday as it takes on CSU Monterey Bay.
