NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Sophomore Myron Hubbard knocked down a go-ahead three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining Wednesday night, lifting the College of Southern Nevada men's basketball team to a thrilling 83–80 victory over Utah State Eastern in its 2026–27 home opener at the Coyote Event Center.
Gerald Patterson scored a game-high 23 points, while Ivoryon Cuffee added 17 and Hubbard finished with 14 as the Coyotes (3–2) held off a furious second-half comeback to secure their second consecutive victory.
After building a 13-point lead midway through the second half, Southern Nevada watched Utah State Eastern erase the deficit and tie the game at 80 on a three-pointer from Robbie Yates with 42 seconds remaining.
But the Coyotes had one final answer.
Following a timeout, Cuffee found Hubbard for the decisive three-pointer with 15 seconds left, putting CSN back in front 83–80. Utah State Eastern had one final opportunity to force overtime, but Yates' three-point attempt with one second remaining missed, sealing the home-opening victory.
The dramatic finish capped a strong offensive performance from Southern Nevada, which shot 49.2 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from beyond the arc.
The Coyotes opened the contest with a 10–4 advantage before Utah State Eastern responded with a run of its own, eventually taking a 23–16 lead with 8:51 remaining in the first half.
Southern Nevada answered behind Tyler Bright, who scored 11 of his 13 points before halftime. A three-pointer from Hubbard with five minutes remaining helped spark the comeback, and the Coyotes closed the opening period with a 37–34 advantage.
CSN carried that momentum into the second half, finding its offensive rhythm behind Patterson and Cuffee.
Patterson scored 18 of his 23 points after halftime, while Cuffee added 15 of his 17 in the final 20 minutes. The duo combined for 33 second-half points as Southern Nevada connected on 56.7 percent of its shots after the break.
A three-pointer from Cuffee with 12:50 remaining pushed the Coyotes' lead to nine before Southern Nevada extended its advantage to 65–52 with 10:44 left.
However, Utah State Eastern refused to go away.
The Eagles chipped away at the deficit behind Bryton Valdes and Merrick Rillstone, eventually pulling within two points on several occasions. A basket from Brooks Jones tied the game at 76 with 1:59 remaining, setting up a back-and-forth finish.
Patterson answered with a layup to put CSN back in front, and Hubbard followed with another basket to extend the lead to 80–76 with 1:18 remaining.
Utah State Eastern responded with a free throw from Valdes and Yates' game-tying three-pointer before Hubbard delivered the final blow.
Patterson led Southern Nevada with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including two three-pointers, while converting seven of eight attempts from the free-throw line.
Cuffee contributed 17 points, five assists and two steals, connecting on three of six attempts from beyond the arc.
Hubbard turned in one of his strongest all-around performances of the young season, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists. He shot 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range, including the game-winner.
Bright recorded his first double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, while Nixis Yamauchi directed the offense with eight assists, five rebounds and five points.
Anthony Nwuli provided nine points and four rebounds off the bench.
Southern Nevada controlled the glass, outrebounding Utah State Eastern 43–31, and finished with 18 assists on 30 made field goals.
The Eagles were led by Valdes with 18 points and five assists, while Rillstone added 17 points and six rebounds. Ezias Steffen contributed 11 points off the bench.
The victory marked CSN's second straight win following Friday's 80–73 overtime victory at Phoenix College and gave the Coyotes a successful start to their home schedule.
Up Next
Southern Nevada continues its homestand Saturday, November 14, when the Coyotes host South Mountain Community College at 4 p.m. at the Coyote Event Center in North Las Vegas.
The matchup gives CSN an opportunity to avenge its 74–58 road loss to South Mountain on November 5.
