LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The College of Southern Nevada Coyotes used a dominant first-half offensive display to overpower the Central Arizona College Vaqueros 86 to 67 in a men’s junior college basketball game Saturday.

The contest was effectively decided before halftime, as the Coyotes built a commanding 44 to 31 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 86 to 67 by the final buzzer. The 19-point margin of victory was Southern Nevada’s largest in the three-game season series between the teams, which the Coyotes now lead 2-1.

The most critical phase of the game was the opening quarter, where Southern Nevada established a tone of superior efficiency and control that Central Arizona never countered. Despite an early layup from Central Arizona’s Ja’Kwan Jordan, the Coyotes responded with a 3-pointer from Maximus Romero just 14 seconds later and never relinquished the lead. Southern Nevada shot 44 percent from the floor in the period while capitalizing on six Vaquero turnovers, converting them into easy transition opportunities. A key sequence saw the Coyotes’ Ryan Raad score on a layup, followed immediately by a Romero steal and another Raad layup, pushing the lead to 28 to 20 and forcing Central Arizona into a timeout. The Coyotes closed the quarter on a 8-2 run, capped by another Raad layup with 1:20 remaining, to take a 13-point advantage.

Southern Nevada’s offensive execution, reflected in an offensive rating of 111.7 points per 100 possessions compared to Central Arizona’s 87.9, was led by Ryan Raad. The Coyotes’ top star finished with 23 points, showcasing a versatile inside-out game. He was complemented by Maximus Romero, who added 22 points, and Gerald Patterson, who contributed 14 points and nine rebounds. The Coyotes’ interior presence was overwhelming, outrebounding the Vaqueros 52 to 32, including a 16 to 11 edge on the offensive glass that led to 15 second-chance points.

Central Arizona, which fell to 10-17 overall, was led by Tayshaun Jackson’s 17 points and seven assists and Luke Leatherwood’s 21 points and seven rebounds. However, the Vaqueros struggled with their shooting touch all afternoon, converting just 38.6 percent of their field goal attempts and 27.3 percent from beyond the arc. Their 12 turnovers, while fewer than Southern Nevada’s 15, often came in damaging clusters that fueled the Coyotes’ early momentum.

Southern Nevada, which improved to 9-13, maintained its double-digit lead throughout the second quarter. Every Central Arizona push was met with an answering score, primarily from Raad or Romero. The Coyotes’ largest lead was 21 points after a pair of Raad free throws with 3:39 remaining in the game.

The victory provided a measure of consistency for Southern Nevada, which had split its two previous meetings with Central Arizona this season, each team winning on its home floor. The decisive nature of this win, fueled by the explosive first-quarter performance, underscored the Coyotes’ offensive capabilities when operating efficiently.