RANGELY, Colo. (Interstat) — In a high-octane men’s junior college basketball season opener that defied pregame projections, the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes outlasted the Colorado Northwestern Community College Spartans 102 to 93 on Friday night.

The victory was a statement win for the Coyotes, who were pegged by Interstat’s ELO system as having only a 36 percent chance to win on the road. The game was a tale of two halves, with a dominant first-quarter performance by Southern Nevada ultimately providing the cushion needed to secure the win.

Southern Nevada exploded out of the gate, putting up 49 points in the opening quarter while holding the Spartans to 40. The offensive firepower displayed by the Coyotes in the first 10 minutes set a frantic pace that Colorado Northwestern struggled to match consistently, despite a valiant effort. The second quarter was a more even affair, with both teams scoring 53 points, but the damage from the first quarter had already been done.

The Coyotes’ offense was fueled by a trio of standout performances. Ryan Raad led all scorers with 30 points in just 29 minutes of play, proving to be an efficient and explosive offensive weapon. Demarion Yap orchestrated the offense masterfully, contributing 23 points and dishing out a game-high 6 assists while also adding 3 rebounds and a block. Gerald Patterson provided a strong all-around presence, falling just shy of a double-double with 19 points and 8 rebounds to go along with 4 assists.

For the Spartans, the loss came despite a balanced scoring attack that saw five players reach double figures. Trey Johnson and Jordan Jones each tallied 19 points, with Johnson adding 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Jaden Fitzhugh was a force for Colorado Northwestern, scoring 18 points and grabbing 5 rebounds in a game-high 38 minutes on the court. Gibson Walton added 12 points and Finn Powelson nearly recorded a triple-double with 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.

The game was characterized by its fast pace and offensive runs. Southern Nevada’s Drake Watanabe provided a crucial spark off the bench, chipping in 13 points and 4 assists. The Coyotes’ ability to answer every Spartan push in the second quarter was the key to maintaining their lead, with Raad and Yap hitting critical shots to stifle any momentum Colorado Northwestern tried to build.

With the win, Southern Nevada begins its season with a 1-0 record across all competitions, while Colorado Northwestern starts 0-1. The two teams are scheduled for a quick rematch, facing off again on Saturday in Rangely.

Southern Nevada’s next 10 games include a matchup at Utah State Eastern on Nov. 21 and a home contest against South Plains on Dec. 17. Colorado Northwestern looks to rebound on Saturday as well when they travel to face Yavapai, followed by a home game against Arizona Western on Nov. 5.