NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Feb. 18, 2026) — The College of Southern Nevada men's basketball team delivered one of its most complete performances of the season Wednesday night, building a commanding first-half lead and maintaining control throughout an 86–66 ACCAC victory over Yavapai College at the Coyote Event Center.
The win moves CSN to 14-12 overall and 5-7 in conference play.
From the opening minutes, the Coyotes dictated tempo and spacing. After Yavapai briefly grabbed a 2-0 lead just 22 seconds into the contest, CSN answered immediately behind the perimeter shooting of Maximus Romero. The sophomore guard buried consecutive three-pointers to ignite a 6-0 response, and the momentum only accelerated from there.
Romero's early shooting forced Yavapai to extend defensively, opening driving lanes and interior passing angles that CSN exploited all night. Ryan Raad soon joined the perimeter barrage, knocking down three first-half triples of his own as the Coyotes stretched their advantage into double digits before the midpoint of the half.
CSN shot a blistering 56.3 percent from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes (9-of-16), repeatedly finding clean looks through disciplined ball movement and inside-out action. The Coyotes assisted on 11 of their 15 first-half field goals and consistently turned defensive rebounds into structured offensive sets.
Gerald Patterson anchored the interior presence, controlling the glass and facilitating from the high post. His ability to rebound and quickly initiate offense allowed CSN to push pace without sacrificing spacing.
By halftime, the Coyotes held a 41–29 lead, shooting 48.4 percent from the field while limiting Yavapai to 34.4 percent. CSN never trailed again after Romero's first three-pointer at the 18:46 mark of the first half.
Yavapai attempted to cut into the deficit early in the second half, trimming the margin to eight within the first two minutes. But CSN responded with poise.
A layup from Patterson reestablished rhythm, and shortly thereafter, Qualib Ghallab converted a fast-break opportunity following a steal to spark a decisive run. The momentum snowballed when Romero connected from deep again, followed by a three-pointer from Ivoryon Cuffee that pushed the lead to 16.
The Coyotes' defensive pressure intensified during that stretch. CSN forced 17 Yavapai turnovers and converted those miscues into 20 points, repeatedly capitalizing in transition.
Patterson delivered one of his most complete efforts of the season, finishing with 17 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. He added seven assists, showcasing his versatility as both a finisher and facilitator.
Romero matched Patterson with 17 points, going 5-of-10 from three-point range and converting both of his free throws. His perimeter shooting established tone early and helped stretch the margin to its largest point of the night.
Demarion Yap added 15 points, attacking off the dribble and converting 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Raad contributed 14 points, knocking down four three-pointers and providing steady defensive pressure on the perimeter.
Off the bench, Cuffee finished with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including two three-pointers, while Ghallab added key defensive plays during the second-half surge.
CSN finished the contest shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three-point range (13-of-33). The Coyotes also converted 15-of-20 from the free-throw line and held a 41–38 rebounding edge.
The largest lead of the game reached 31 points midway through the second half as the Coyotes maintained control on both ends of the floor. Yavapai was led by Rudolfs Svitins with 28 points, but the Roughriders were unable to overcome CSN's first-half shooting and sustained defensive pressure.
Perhaps most encouraging for CSN was the balanced scoring distribution. Five Coyotes scored in double figures, and the bench accounted for 20 points in support of the starting unit. The ball movement remained consistent throughout the game, as CSN assisted on 22 of its 29 made field goals.
In conference play where margins are often thin, Wednesday's performance reflected sustained execution from start to finish — a wire-to-wire effort fueled by perimeter efficiency, interior rebounding, and defensive activity.
CSN will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 21, when the Coyotes travel to Yuma, Ariz., to face Arizona Western College in ACCAC play. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
For complete schedules, statistics, and updates, visit www.csncoyotes.com
