YUMA, Ariz. (March 5, 2026) — The College of Southern Nevada men's basketball team delivered one of the most dramatic wins of its season Thursday night, as Gerald Patterson tipped in a missed shot with three seconds remaining to lift the Coyotes to an 88–87 victory over top-seeded Arizona Western College in the Region 1 Semifinals at The House.

With the win, CSN improves to 16-15 on the season and advances to the Region 1 championship game. The Coyotes will now travel to Douglas, Ariz., to face No. 3 seed Cochise College in the Region 1 Men's Basketball Finals on Saturday evening.

Thursday's semifinal matchup lived up to its postseason billing, featuring constant momentum swings between two teams battling for a spot in the regional title game.

Arizona Western held a narrow 45–44 lead at halftime despite a strong offensive showing from the Coyotes. CSN shot an efficient 57.6 percent from the field in the first half, with Demarion Yap and Ivoryon Cuffee providing early scoring to keep the Coyotes within striking distance.

The Matadors countered with balanced offense and strong free-throw shooting, converting nine of their first 11 attempts from the line to maintain a slim edge entering the locker room.

The second half quickly turned into a battle of runs.

CSN seized control midway through the period behind the scoring of Maximus Romero and Gerald Patterson. Patterson attacked the paint for consecutive baskets, and moments later Ryan Raad knocked down a three-pointer that helped push the Coyotes ahead.

Romero then ignited a surge that gave CSN its largest lead of the night. The sophomore guard connected from beyond the arc and continued attacking the rim, helping the Coyotes stretch the advantage to 72–61 with 8:45 remaining.

Arizona Western responded behind Marsai Mason and Mario Brunetto, gradually chipping away at the deficit. Mason repeatedly attacked the basket and earned trips to the free-throw line, while Brunetto added key baskets that brought the Matadors back within striking distance.

The final minute delivered the drama expected in postseason play.

With the Coyotes holding a slim lead late, Marsai Mason attacked the rim and converted a layup through contact to tie the game at 86–86. Mason then stepped to the free-throw line and knocked down the ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play, giving Arizona Western an 87–86 advantage with eight seconds remaining.

CSN quickly advanced the ball following a timeout and looked to Romero for the final shot. The guard drove into the lane and released a contested layup that bounced off the rim, but Patterson battled through traffic for the offensive rebound and tipped the ball back into the basket with three seconds left on the clock to give the Coyotes an 88–87 lead.

Arizona Western had one last opportunity, but the Matadors were forced to settle for a hurried half-court heave as time expired, allowing CSN to complete the upset victory.

Romero led all scorers with 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting while adding seven rebounds and two steals. Patterson finished with 19 points and five rebounds, highlighted by the decisive tip-in.

Yap added 14 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting night, while Ivoryon Cuffee also contributed 14 points off the bench. Raad chipped in eight points and seven rebounds to round out a balanced offensive effort.

As a team, CSN shot an impressive 59 percent from the field and held Arizona Western to just 20 percent shooting from three-point range. The Coyotes also forced 13 turnovers and converted those opportunities into 15 points.

Arizona Western was led by Mason's 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Brunetto added 18 points off the bench. Despite strong free-throw shooting from the Matadors, CSN's efficiency from the field and late-game execution proved decisive.

The victory sends the Coyotes to the Region 1 championship game with a chance to capture the regional title.

CSN will travel to Douglas, Ariz., on Saturday evening 7:00 p.m. (MST) to face No. 3 seed Cochise College in the Region 1 Men's Basketball Finals.

For updates and championship coverage, visit www.csncoyotes.com