TURLOCK — One of the nation's top defenses frustrated and pestered one of the nation's best offenses on Thursday, but it was No. 3/4 Cal State San Bernardino who prevailed in the end, finally breaking through the Stanislaus State men's basketball team's lockdown defense late in the second half to escape with a 54-45 California Collegiate Athletic Association win at Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena.
 
It was truly a clash of opposites. Stanislaus State (6-10, 3-8 CCAA) entered Thursday's game with the ninth-best scoring defense in the country, limiting opponents to 63.0 points per game. Meanwhile, the No. 3/4-ranked Coyotes (17-1, 11-1 CCAA) started the night with the 11th-highest scoring offense in the nation, averaging 88.3 ppg. Early on, it was the Warriors' defense that took the upper hand.
 
Stan State forced four CSUSB turnovers and limited them to two points on 1 for 4 shooting in the first three minutes. The high-powered Coyotes offense was only 1 for 7 from 3-point range in the first half and would shoot just 37.0% (20 for 54) on the night. The Warriors held Cal State San Bernardino to its lowest point total of the season by 20 points. The 'Yotes' previous low was 74 on Saturday against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
But Stanislaus State struggled to capitalize offensively on the chances its defense created for it. The Warriors scored 24 points in the first half and led, 24-22, at the break, and had only scored 12 more points through the first 13 minutes of the second. That didn't stop them from battling, though. A 9-1 run to start the second gave CSUSB a six-point, 31-25 lead. Stan State answered with its own 8-0 run, accented by Marlon Short's flying dunk to put the Warriors back up, 33-31.
 
The Warriors stayed close for most of the second half, but like their first meeting in San Bernardino, the Coyotes made a strong, late push to come away with the victory. CSUSB made three of four shots over a 90-second period with two 3-pointers and a dunk to turn a four-point lead into a 10-point advantage with four minutes left.
 
Short turned in a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Benno Zecic scored 10 points and added five rebounds and two assists. The 'Yotes were led by Kaijae Yee-Stevens' 16 points off the bench, including those two dagger 3-pointers late in the game.
 
Stanislaus State next hosts Cal Poly Pomona at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. No spectators will be allowed inside Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena for Saturday's game. Fans can find all live coverage links on WarriorAthletics.com.