SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – After an exciting win on Thursday for Cal State East Bay men's basketball in the opening round of the 2023-24 CCAA Tournament, the Pioneers competed in the semifinals. Against top-seeded Cal State San Bernardino, the Pioneers came up short, falling 74-67.  
 

The Pioneers and Coyotes battled close throughout the first half, as a back-and-forth battle saw no lead exceed single digits in the half. Although CSUSB led by as much as nine points at the 5:07 mark of the first half, an 11-2 run capped off by a dunk from Grady Lewis at the 1:38 mark tied the game at 33-33. Although Robby Robinson sunk a pair of free throws to briefly give the Coyotes the lead back, a layup by Lewis in the final minute tied the game at 35-35 which is where the game stood at halftime. 

To start the second half, the Pioneers took a brief lead on a free throw by Lewis, but LeAndrew Knight answered with a layup on the next possession for a 37-36 lead. The Coyotes eventually built their lead to as much as nine points on multiple occasions, but the Pioneers managed to climb back to within two points at the 4:21 mark of the game on a layup by Tyree Campbell. However, the Coyotes slowly pulled away down the stretch, and won 74-67. 
 

• Campbell was CSUEB's leading scorer with 18 points, going 8-for-18 from the floor with a free throw made. 
• Lewis and Chris James scored 12 points each, Dimitrios Klonaras scored 11 and Daeshawn Eaton reached double figures in scoring with 10 points. 
• Klonaras had a team-high eight rebounds. 
• Defensively, Lewis had three blocks and two steals. 
• For CSUSB, Knight scored 16 points to lead the Coyotes. 
• The Pioneers shot 44.4 percent from the floor and CSUSB shot 40 percent in field goals. 
• CSUSB had a 41-37 rebounding edge. 

Cal State East Bay head coach Bryan Rooney following Friday's CCAA Tournament semifinal game:
"Disappointed in the result but not disappointed in our fight and the effort that our group had. Very, very proud of that."

Rooney about the character of his team:
"That's the greatest gift our players give to me as a coach. Not what they do offensively or defensively or rebounding-wise, not the big wins that we've had - at Point Loma, sweeping [Cal State San Bernardino] in the regular season. Big win here [against Chico State]. It's how they carry themselves. It's as a dad, having the individuals in our locker room that are absolute role models for my family, for my children. But they're role models for me as well on how to live their life. So, again, bitterly disappointed [in the result], but if you told me of any program, any group in the country I can coach, I'd pick those guys 10 times out of 10. I love them." 
 

The Pioneers will await the selections for the 2024 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championships as to whether or not they receive an at-large bid for the NCAA Division II West Regionals. Selections are to be announced this coming Sunday, March 10 at 8 p.m. Pacific time.