SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Interstat) — The Cerro Coso Coyotes delivered a defensive masterclass to upset the Santa Monica Corsairs 56-47 in a California junior college men’s basketball game Friday night, defying statistical projections that heavily favored the home team.

Interstat’s metrics had given Santa Monica a 61 percent probability to win, with a projected final score in the neighborhood of 100 points for each team. Instead, the contest became a grinding, low-possession battle defined by missed shots and tenacious defense from the visiting Coyotes.

Cerro Coso, which improved to 3-5, set the tone early with physical defense, holding Santa Monica scoreless for the game’s first three minutes. The Corsairs’ offensive struggles were emblematic of their night, starting 0 for 7 from the field before Michael Kalu’s dunk at the 17:08 mark of the first quarter finally put them on the board. Both teams labored offensively in a first quarter that ended tied at 23, but the trajectory of the game was clear: Santa Monica could not find an efficient scoring rhythm.

The second quarter proved decisive. While the Coyotes were hardly prolific, shooting just 33 percent from the floor for the game, they generated enough offense to pull away. A 7-0 run early in the period, capped by a Demarris Day 3-pointer, gave Cerro Coso a 30-23 lead and forced a Santa Monica timeout at the 17:27 mark. The Corsairs, who fell to 3-8, never recovered. They shot a frigid 30.6 percent overall and a dismal 24 percent from 3-point range. Their offensive rating of 73.1 points per 100 possessions underscored a night of frustration.

Cerro Coso’s control was built on defense, rebounding and capitalizing at the free-throw line. The Coyotes won the rebounding battle 44-41 and, critically, converted 15 of 21 free throws. Santa Monica attempted only nine free throws, making three. The assist disparity was stark, with Cerro Coso recording six to Santa Monica’s two, highlighting the Coyotes’ slightly better ball movement and the Corsairs’ inability to create clean looks.

Demarris Day led the Coyotes with 16 points, while Issiakoi Aminou added 13 points and six rebounds. Terrance Sims Jr. provided a key all-around effort with seven points, 12 rebounds and five assists. For Santa Monica, Jerrell McCready shouldered the offensive load with a game-high 19 points, but received little consistent support. Sage Church added eight points.

The most important sequence of the game solidified Cerro Coso’s lead and summed up Santa Monica’s offensive woes. Leading 34-31 midway through the second quarter, the Coyotes endured a scoring drought but their defense ensured the Corsairs could not capitalize. From the 11:52 mark to the 3:31 mark, Cerro Coso managed only three points on an Ade Daramola 3-pointer. In that same span, however, Santa Monica scored just six points, missing eight field goal attempts and committing two turnovers. This defensive stand preserved the Coyotes’ lead and ultimately broke the Corsairs’ spirit, as they never got the deficit below two possessions again.

Cerro Coso next plays at Reedley on Wednesday. Santa Monica will look to rebound quickly, hosting Santiago Canyon on Saturday.