HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team made history yet again on Wednesday, securing its first appearance in the NCAA committee's regional rankings since re-joining Division II. The Pioneers are slotted at No. 8 in the first iteration of the West Region rankings. 

Last Saturday, the Pioneers defeated Sonoma State by one point to notch the program's first 20-win season since 1999-00. In the process, they also clinched a top-four seed and a home game in the first round of the CCAA Tournament. It will be the first time CSUEB has qualified for the postseason since becoming members of the conference in 2009.

With a 15-4 record in CCAA games, East Bay is currently in first place, clinging to a one-game lead heading into the final three regular season contests. The NCAA committees will release a new set of regional rankings each of the next two Wednesdays leading up to the conference tournaments the first week in March. Then on Sunday, Mar. 10, the NCAA Division II tournament field will be unveiled. 

The field for the West Regional will feature the top eight teams in the rankings, and three of those spots are automatic bids awarded to the conference tournament champions for the CCAA, PacWest, and GNAC. If they can maintain a spot in the top-eight over the last few weeks, the Pioneers are looking to reach the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time since 1985-86.

CSUEB celebrates "Senior Day" this Saturday afternoon prior to the final home game of the regular season at 3 p.m. against Cal State Monterey Bay.