HAYWARD, Calif. – On Saturday, Cal State East Bay men's basketball defeated (RV) Cal State San Bernardino, 64-59 to sweep the season series, and combined with other action in the CCAA on Saturday, clinched a berth in the 2024 CCAA Tournament. The CCAA Tournament appearance will be the first for the Pioneers since 2020 and third overall for the program since being directed by head coach Bryan Rooney. 
 

In the first half, the Pioneers started the half on 10-5 run capped by a Dimitrios Klonaras jumper with 14:46 left. From that point on, the Coyotes answered with a 17-11 run, capped by a Christopher Mitchell three pointer with 9:12 left, to take the lead at 22-21. The Coyotes led by seven, 32-25, on a Bryce Mitchell three pointer with 4:49 left in the half. The Pioneers then answered with a 9-4 spurt, capped by a Tyree Campbell layup with 49 seconds left, to trim the Coyotes' lead to 36-34 at halftime.

Cal State East Bay started the second half on a 7-0 run, capped by a Campbell three-pointer with 18:54 left, to take the lead at 39-36. The Pioneers built their largest lead of the ballgame at 13, at 53-40, on a Klonaras layup with 14:07 left. The Coyotes worked their way back into the ballgame and come as close as two points, at 61-59 with 1:19 left, after a pair of free throws by Sedrick Altman. However, a dunk by Campbell in addition to a free throw sealed the victory, 64-59. 
 

• With 14 points each were Klonaras and Tyree Campbell. Campbell went 6-for-14 from the floor and 1-for-2 from the free throw line. 
• Klonaras had 10 rebounds for a double double, and also reaching a double double was Grady Lewis with 13 points and 10 rebounds. 
• Defensively, Campbell had four steals. 
• For CSUSB, Mitchell scored a game-high 18 points. 
• Cal State East Bay shot 42.6 percent from the floor to 33.3 percent for CSUSB. 
• The Coyotes had a 41-40 rebounding advantage. 
• By way of the win, combined with Sonoma State's 73-64 overtime loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills, the Pioneers clinched a spot in the CCAA Tournament.  

Cal State East Bay head coach Bryan Rooney following Saturday's win:
"Gutsy win for our group - extremely proud of our commitment to stick together, especially defensively. We will need a similar effort against two very good teams next week." 
 

Cal State East Bay: 16-9, 12-7 CCAA
(RV) Cal State San Bernardino: 19-6, 14-5 CCAA
 

The third game of a five-game home stretch takes place at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday evening, February 22, for the Pioneers when they host Cal State San Marcos. On January 20, the Pioneers defeated the Cougars, 68-65.