SAN BERNARDINO — Large leads, small leads, multiple lead changes, big runs on both sides… none of that would matter Saturday after the game wound up being decided in the final minutes.
 
#11/12 Cal State San Bernardino had to use a 15-2 run in the final 5 1/2 minutes of Saturday's California Collegiate Athletic Association game to finally pull away from Stanislaus State, who held multiple leads throughout the night, and escape with an 87-72 win at Coussoulis Arena.
 
A game that saw 13 lead changes in the first 30 1/2 minutes came to a clear end on the Coyotes' push in the final five. They made five of eight shot attempts (62.5%) and were flawless from the free-throw line (5 for 5) to put the game away. Meanwhile, the Coyotes' defense finally figured out the Warriors (2-5, 0-3 CCAA), holding a team that had shot 47.1% overall and 55.2% from 3-point range up to that point – to just 1 for 8 and 0 for 5 from deep.
 
It was 3-point shooting that kept the Warriors in the game all night long. They made 16 3-pointers – the most they've made in a game in more than 14 years, when they made 16 against Saint Martin's on Nov. 16, 2007. Benno Zecic made seven treys on his way to a career-high 23 points and seemed to have an answer for everything Cal State San Bernardino threw at him. It was the most 3-pointers in a game by a Warrior since Andy Cleaves also made seven against Cal State San Bernardino four years ago on Nov. 15, 2017.
 
Zecic's first 3-pointer of the night in the first half started a 22-4 Stanislaus State run and erased an eight-point deficit, giving them a commanding 10-point, 30-20 lead. He hit four treys and dished assists on four other baskets during that stretch.
 
All three of his 3-pointers after halftime gave the Warriors back the lead. On three separate occasions in the first five minutes of the second half, the Coyotes (7-1, 2-1 CCAA) had taken a one- or two-point lead, and every single time, Zecic answered with a trey to return the lead back to Stanislaus State. Six of the Warriors' eight long balls in the second half either gave them back the lead or broke a tie.
 
Stanislaus State showed big fight against the nationally ranked Coyotes – made even more impressive by the fact they were facing their third consecutive nationally ranked opponent over an eight-day stretch to start conference play. It was their fourth nationally ranked opponent in their first seven games after opening the year against No. 24/13 Point Loma.
 
Tony Singleton scored a season-high 24 points to lead Stanislaus State. Zecic added a career-high nine assists to narrowly miss a double-double and five rebounds. Will Pallesi had 12 points and two rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.
 
Cal State San Bernardino also had two 20-point scorers in Brandon Knapper – who went for 32 – and Daytone Jennings with 24. Daytone also had 16 rebounds for a monster double-double. Eddie Davis chipped in 10 points and eight boards for the Coyotes.
 
Stanislaus State comes back to Turlock for three home games in the month of December. The Warriors host CCAA opponents Humboldt State on Saturday and Sonoma State on Dec. 18, then play Holy Names in a non-conference matchup before the holiday break. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on WarriorAthletics.com.