Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Guard Brian Goins scored a game-high 23 points, 10 of them in the last five minutes, lifting Cal State San Bernardino to a 75-69 victory over Dixie State Friday night, March 15, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA II Men's Basketball West Regional in Bellingham, Wash.
The Coyotes, the No.5 seed in the West Region, improved to 20-8 and face the Western Washington in a semifinal Monday, March 18.
Dixie State, the No.4 seed, concluded its season 22-7. Guard DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy) led the Red Storm with 16 points.
Dixie State held a 61-60 lead with just under three minutes left, but Juan Martinez hit a three-pointer from the right side, then Lacy Haddock scored on a fastbreak layin, giving the Coyotes a 65-61 lead with 2:36 to play.
Kimball Payne (Alpine, UT/Lone Peak) scored to cut the margin to two, but Goins hit a three-pointer at the other end to make the score 68-63 with 1:44 left.
The Red Storm eventually pulled within two with eight seconds left, but Goins hit two free throws to put the game out of reach.
The game featured 12 ties and 11 lead changes. The biggest lead of the game was a 34-27 Coyote advantage late in the first half.
Kwame Alexander had 14 points and 13 rebounds for Cal State San Bernardino.
DIXIE STATE COACH JON JUDKINS (On the game) Not a very good game for us. I give them a lot of credit -- they played very hard and very physical. It was not one of our better games, but we didn't quit. It seemed like every single time we got a stop, the got an offensive rebound on us. Every time we got down and defended, they did a good job. Their No. 3 (Brian Goins) had a career night on us. He hit some big shots that changed the whole game.
(On any particular strategy) In games like this, it comes down to willpower and toughness. We've got to work on being tougher and being more physical. We had chances to get balls, we just have to go get them. When you come this far, you make it to the tournament (the officials) are going to let you play. It's going to be physical, and tonight was a great example of that.
(On any particular difference) We just couldn't get the ball to our bigs enough. We didn't turn the ball over a ton, we thought that was a key event, we thought rebounding would be key event. When it got down to crunch time, they hit two big 3s on a transition defense. Just didn't know where they were.
McKAY MASSEY (On the game) Just missed opportunities and a couple missed shots, It was rebounds and our ability to execute.
(On saving the ball and beginning a CSUSB fast break) I'm just trying to chuck it, threw it too far. One of those I wish I could take back.
DeQUAN THOMPSON (On Goins' big shot) It was a tough shot, he just happened to hit it. It seemed like one of those nights.
