By Brandon Landrum |Staff Writer| Despite the weekend split last weekend, the CSUSB men’s basketball team bounced back with two straight wins on Feb. 28 and March 1. One of the games was an overtime thriller that led the Coyotes to victory. The Coyotes played against the Gators of CSU San Francisco on Feb. 28 and the Seawolves of Sonoma State University to end the regular season. In the first game against CSU San Francisco, the Coyotes got off to a great start and never looked back, beating the Gators 89-58. In the first half, the Coyotes started the game on fire, hitting their first couple of shots to give them an early lead on the Gators. At the end of the half the score … [Read more...] about CSUSB men’s basketball gains control over CSU San Francisco and Sonoma State
Kwame Alexander
CSUSB men’s basketball gets stopped by Chico and Stanislaus
By Brandon Landrum |Staff Writer| Despite giving it their all, the CSUSB men’s basketball team went down in both games on Feb. 15 and Feb. 16. The Coyotes played the Wildcats of CSU Chico and the Warriors of CSU Stanislaus. The team traveled to CSU Chico to play the Wildcats in the first of two road games. In the first half, the Coyotes started off strong, keeping the game close but toward the end of the half, the Wildcats began to pull away. The team shot 33 percent from the three-point line and had a 30 percent field goal percentage in the first. Leading the way was junior point guard Juan Martinez with 10 points and junior combo guard Lacy Haddock with seven points to … [Read more...] about CSUSB men’s basketball gets stopped by Chico and Stanislaus
Men’s basketball powers through weekend
By Brandon Landrum |Staff Writer| The CSUSB men’s basketball team is still on fire and continues to play great basketball extending their winning streak to six. The Coyotes played their last two games on the road in Los Angeles against the Golden Eagles of CSU Los Angeles on Feb. 1, and then headed to Carson to take on the Toros of CSU Dominguez Hills on Feb. 2. The Coyotes were in for a battle against the Golden Eagels, escaping with a 67-66 win in dramatic fashion. In the first half, the Coyotes got off to a rusty start but quickly bounced back with the help of junior guard Brian Goins and sophomore Jamari Simmons. Both Goins and Simmons scored nine points. As a team in the … [Read more...] about Men’s basketball powers through weekend
Men’s basketball picks up needed wins
By Brandon Landrum |Staff Writer| Despite two losses in the past two games, the CSUSB men’s basketball team bounced back with two straight wins on Jan. 18 and 19. The Coyotes played the Pioneers of CSU East Bay on Jan. 18 and the Otters of CSU Monterey Bay on Jan. 19. The Coyotes got off to a great start in their first of six games on the road in Heyward as they cruised to a 71-59 victory over CSU East Bay. In the first half of the game, the Coyotes started off sluggish as the Pioneers jumped out to a quick five to nothing lead in the opening minutes. The Coyotes quickly turned it around as Kwame Alexander finished the first half with 11 points, and eight rebounds and Brian … [Read more...] about Men’s basketball picks up needed wins
Men’s basketball falters after eight game winning streak
By Brandon Landrum |Staff Writer| The CSUSB men’s basketball team lost two straight games on Jan. 12 and Jan. 13 despite giving it their best efforts. The 15th ranked Coyotes played the Warriors of CSU Stanislaus on Jan. 12 and the Wildcats of CSU Chico Jan 13. The Coyotes started Friday’s game off sluggish while the Warriors jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they beat the Coyotes 76-60. In the first half of the game, the team got into early foul trouble when junior point guard Brian Goins received two quick personal fouls along with the sixth man, Jamari Simmons who also received two personal fouls. The Coyotes shot 3-13 from the 3-point line and a total of … [Read more...] about Men’s basketball falters after eight game winning streak
Men’s basketball 3-pointers ensure win
By Ryan Libby |Staff Writer| The Coyote’s caught fire from 3-point range propelling them to their first win of the season,with their backs against the wall and down 12 points late in the first half, beating UC San Diego 90-82. The game tested the Coyotes’ ability to remain calm and stick to their game plan Nov. 24 at Coussoulis Arena, leading them to their first CCAA victory. The Coyotes [1-1] struggled early with turnovers and the deficit could have been worse going into halftime. However, back-to-back three pointers by guards Brian Goins and Jamari Simmons allowed the Coyotes to earn some momentum as they would go into the break down 34-31. “I was proud of them,” said head … [Read more...] about Men’s basketball 3-pointers ensure win
Alexander sees NBA in his future
By, Ryan Libby |Staff Writer| Kwame Alexander has flown himself into the limelight with his backboard-breaking dunking ability, but his humble attitude off the basketball court makes his celebrity status unknown to many. Alexander, the All-CCAA senior forward seemed surprised at his YouTube popularity with over 800,000 views on YouTube for his high flying slam dunks, appearances on ESPN, ABC and NBC as well as the number two play on SportsCenter’s top 10 plays of the week. "It’s an honor," said Alexander. "It’s a once in a lifetime thing. Somebody else put [the video] on [YouTube] and it goes viral like that. It’s good. It’s fun." Walking around campus it’s hard not to notice the 6 … [Read more...] about Alexander sees NBA in his future
Coach Oliver unsatisfied with 44 point win
By Ryan Libby |Staff Writer| The Coyotes were able to earn a 97–53 victory in their only exhibition game of the year against Cal Tech. The game was an opportunity for head coach Jeff Oliver to see what more needs to be improved despite a 44 point win. “We were awful in every aspect of the game,” he said. “We didn’t stick to our defensive principals, our transition defense was atrocious and offensively [we] didn’t execute one iota.” There were a few moments in which Cal Tech was able to find an open player off of a screen for a three point shot. This play ran three consecutive times at one point in the game, and while they wound up as empty possessions for Cal Tech, the looks they … [Read more...] about Coach Oliver unsatisfied with 44 point win
Men’s basketball gains new talent for season
By Ryan Libby |Staff Writer| The men’s basketball team is anxious for the new season to start after suffering a 61-60 loss in the final seconds to Sonoma State last year. New players have flooded the roster for the Coyotes as the team only returns four starters from last season and leaving head coach Jeff Oliver happy for the new beginning. “Well it’s nice to turn the page and move on because we have so many new faces [players],” Oliver said when looking back on the loss to Sonoma State last year. “It’d be a little different if we had a lot of returners and [the loss] was kind of brewing all through the off season.” On paper the roster is new, but nearly every player on the … [Read more...] about Men’s basketball gains new talent for season
Coyotes big men recognized by CCAA
By Richard Dawson |Staff Writer| Junior forward Kwame Alexander and senior forward Theron Laudermill were recognized on Feb. 29 by the CCAA for their on-court impacts this season. Alexander was named to the All-CCAA’s first team and Laudermill was named to the second team. On March 7, Alexander was also named to Daktronics All-West Region second team. All the attention could be overwhelming for some, but Alexander takes it in stride. “It has been a really good, positive experience,” said Alexander. “When you have different groups of people asking to do interviews, asking your opinion on things, its nice being in a position to share positivity and try to make a good … [Read more...] about Coyotes big men recognized by CCAA