NORTH LAS VEGAS – The College of Southern Nevada men's basketball team suffered a tough defeat against the Arizona Western College Matadors, falling 88-74 in a hard-fought match. The loss brings the Coyotes to a 14-11 overall record and evens their ACCAC conference play at 9-9.

The game kicked off with the Matadors establishing an early lead, ending the first half with a commanding 44-19 advantage. Despite a spirited comeback attempt in the second half where the Coyotes outscored the Matadors 55-44, the initial deficit proved too great to overcome.

Matt Anglo stood out for the Matadors with a game-high 20 points, thriving at the free-throw line by making 10 out of 11 attempts. Engel Gutierrez and Boubacar Diatta also contributed significantly, adding 14 and 13 points respectively, showcasing the depth of the Matadors' roster.

For the Coyotes, Maximus Romero delivered an exceptional performance, scoring 39 points, including six three-pointers and going 11-for-13 at the free-throw line. A'lyjah Conway-Wilson supported with 12 points and 7 rebounds, but the efforts weren't enough to secure a win.

The Matadors dominated inside, out rebounding the Coyotes 46-44 and scoring heavily in the paint, which was pivotal to their victory. They also capitalized on turnovers, scoring 25 points off Coyote mistakes.

Looking ahead, the Coyotes will aim to rebound from this loss during their upcoming Sophomore Night against the Ball Dawg All-Stars on Monday, March 3rd. The event promises to be an emotional evening as the team honors its departing sophomores, hoping to end the regular season on a high note before heading into the postseason.