SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team delivered a commanding performance Thursday evening, securing a 76-55 victory over Cal State San Bernardino at Coussoulis Arena.

The win marked a significant milestone for Pioneers' head coach Bryan Rooney, who notched his 300th career victory and 100th win at the helm of Cal State East Bay. Rooney served as a collegiate head coach starting in 2007 at Cal Maritime. He took over at Cal State East Bay starting with the 2017-18 season. 
 

A tight first half saw the Pioneers maintain a slim lead, with Beril Kabamba's layup in the final seconds giving East Bay a six-point cushion at the break, taking a 31-25 lead into halftime.

The Pioneers came out firing in the second half. After the Coyotes initially cut the deficit to four by scoring the first basket of the second half, East Bay unleashed a 10-0 run sparked by Teiano Hardee's tip-in. It was their explosive second-half performance that sealed the deal on both ends of the floor, as East Bay pulled away for as much as a 28 point lead, ultimately outscoring the Coyotes 45-30 after the break. 
 

• Teiano Hardee led all scorers with a season-high 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including two 3-pointers and two free throws.
• DJ Sanders and Beril Kabamba reached double figures with 15 and 11 points, respectively.
• Jordan Espinoza and Sanders each grabbed seven rebounds, while also dishing out four assists apiece.
• Ramsey Huff contributed defensively with a block and two steals.
• The Pioneers showcased their efficiency on both ends of the court, shooting 46.9 percent from the field while holding the Coyotes to just 31.7 percent.
• East Bay also dominated the glass, outrebounding CSUSB, 44-37.

Despite reaching a milestone, Rooney credits his team on preparing for Thursday's game: 
"Tremendous effort by our team tonight. I was extremely proud of our defensive commitment the entire night in holding San Bernardino to 31 percent shooting. Credit to our guys in how they approached practice. Our scout team was unselfish all week and was a key part of the preparation."

Cal State East Bay Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Allison Kern praised Coach Rooney's achievement:
"This is an exciting milestone and a great tribute to Coach Rooney's career. He has been an outstanding ambassador for our program and Pioneer Athletics, but more importantly, I think this is a reflection of the person he is day in and day out. He has spent his career focused not on the wins and losses on the scoreboard, but the growth he sees in his players."
 

Cal State East Bay: 11-14, 9-10 CCAA
CSUSB: 18-10, 11-8 CCAA

This victory puts Cal State East Bay in a sixth-place tie in the CCAA standings, a crucial position as the top six teams qualify for the CCAA Tournament. With three games remaining on the schedule, the Pioneers are poised to make a strong push for the postseason.
 

The Pioneers will look to continue their push for the postseason as they face Cal Poly Pomona in their final road game of the regular season. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 22, at Kellogg Arena in Pomona, California. East Bay will be aiming to complete the season sweep, having defeated the Broncos 67-65 in their previous matchup on January 23 in Hayward.