Thatcher, AZ – March 6, 2025 – The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) Coyotes faced a tough battle in their historic first playoff appearance, falling to the top-seeded Eastern Arizona College (EAC) Gila Monsters with a final score of 84-61. This marked the end of a landmark season for the Coyotes, who made it to the ACCAC playoffs for the first time in the program's history, finishing the season with a respectable 15-12 record.
From the onset, the Gila Monsters established control of the game, setting the pace with a robust 41-28 lead by halftime. The Coyotes struggled to find their rhythm, shooting 34.9% from the field and a dismal 17.6% from beyond the arc, significantly lower than their regular season averages.
CSN's Maximus Romero led the scoring for the Coyotes with 13 points, including a couple of key three-pointers that momentarily gave his team a lead in the first half. Kadyn Koch followed closely with 11 points and led the team in rebounds with 7, showcasing his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.
Eastern Arizona's balanced attack was too much for CSN, with five players scoring in double figures. Tarrance Warren and Armari Carraway led EAC with 15 and 14 points respectively, capitalizing on turnovers and fast break opportunities. The Gila Monsters excelled in the paint, scoring 46 points to CSN's 34, and dominated the boards with 47 rebounds to CSN's 33.
The Coyotes showed resilience, fighting back in the second half to cut the lead down to ten points. However, a series of quick baskets from EAC widened the gap, sealing the victory for the Gila Monsters. The game concluded with EAC maintaining a comfortable lead, ending CSN's playoff hopes but not their spirit.
While the loss was disappointing, the playoff appearance marks a significant achievement for the CSN men's basketball team, laying a foundation for future success. The Coyotes will look to this experience as a building block for next season, aiming to go deeper into the playoffs with a young and talented roster hungry for more.
