NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Feb. 28, 2026) — The College of Southern Nevada men's basketball team closed out ACCAC regular-season play in emphatic fashion Saturday afternoon, defeating Central Arizona College 86–67 at the Coyote Event Center to clinch a postseason berth and secure a trip to Yuma next week for the conference playoffs.
With the victory, CSN improves to 15-14 overall and 6-9 in ACCAC play, earning a spot in the postseason field. The Coyotes will travel to Yuma, Ariz., to face the No. 1-seeded Arizona Western College Matadors next week. Game details will be announced Monday.
Saturday's finale showcased one of CSN's most balanced and complete performances of the season.
After an early back-and-forth stretch that featured five ties and two lead changes, the Coyotes seized control midway through the first half. Trailing 13-10, CSN responded with a decisive run fueled by interior scoring and transition opportunities. A fastbreak dunk by Christian Ware ignited the surge, and Ryan Raad followed with consecutive layups to push the Coyotes ahead for good.
CSN shot 45.5 percent from the field in the first half and an efficient 44.4 percent from three-point range (4-of-9), building a 44-31 halftime advantage. The Coyotes were aggressive attacking the paint, outscoring Central Arizona inside and converting 10-of-12 free throws before the break.
The second half belonged firmly to the Coyotes.
Central Arizona briefly trimmed the deficit to 10 early in the period, but CSN answered each push with poise. Demarion Yap provided a spark with consecutive finishes at the rim, and Gerald Patterson controlled the interior on both ends, converting second-chance opportunities and limiting Central Arizona's ability to generate momentum.
A three-pointer by Ryan Raad at the 7:42 mark extended the lead to 69-54, and the Coyotes never allowed the margin to dip below double digits from that point forward. The lead grew to as many as 20 in the closing minutes as CSN continued to attack the paint and capitalize at the free-throw line.
Raad led the Coyotes with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, adding nine rebounds and four assists in one of his most complete efforts of the season. Maximus Romero followed with 22 points, shooting 8-of-14 from the floor and converting 4-of-5 at the line while dishing three assists and recording three steals.
Patterson delivered a strong all-around performance with 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists, anchoring the interior presence that helped CSN dominate the glass. Yap added 14 points and three assists, while Ivoryon Cuffee and Christian Ware each contributed six points off the bench.
As a team, CSN shot 48.5 percent from the field (33-of-68), outrebounded Central Arizona 52-32 and scored 50 points in the paint. The Coyotes also forced 15 turnovers and converted those opportunities into key transition baskets throughout the contest.
Central Arizona was led by Luke Leatherwood's 21 points, but the Vaqueros struggled to match CSN's efficiency and interior presence. The visitors shot 38.6 percent from the floor and were limited to just nine bench points.
Saturday's victory represents a significant milestone for a CSN squad that battled through a demanding ACCAC schedule. The Coyotes showed resilience down the stretch of conference play, finishing strong to punch their ticket to postseason competition.
Before turning their full attention to the playoffs, CSN will host one final non-conference game Monday night at the Coyote Event Center against the Bawl Dawgs. The men's basketball program will also honor its sophomore class prior to tipoff.
Playoff information regarding CSN's matchup at top-seeded Arizona Western College in Yuma will be released Monday.
For complete updates and postseason details, visit www.csncoyotes.com
