HAYWARD, Calif. — The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team broke through with one of its biggest wins of the season on Thursday, knocking off No. 18-ranked Chico State, 65-63, at Pioneer Gym.

CSUEB (12-9, 8-7 CCAA) has now split the season series with the Wildcats, who entered the night riding a nine-game winning streak and in second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings.

The Pioneers have won three of its last four contests and two straight at home. Cal State East Bay currently sits in sixth place in the conference standings, just one game behind Stanislaus State for fifth and one game ahead of seventh-place Cal State San Marcos.

Senior Evan Wardlow led the way with a team-high 12 points and five rebounds, while junior forward Zafir Williams battled foul trouble but still finished with 11 points, seven boards and four steals.

Senior Trent Warren had 10 points, junior Nai Carlisle had nine points with five assists and senior Ant Navarrete added eight points.

Carlisle has now recorded five assists in three-consecutive games, and is averaging 17.6 points per game during that stretch.

After allowing the opening bucket of the game, the Pioneers never trailed again for the rest of the evening. Cal State East Bay led by as many as 14 in the first half, as Chico State (15-4, 10-3) managed to have only 10 points with eight minutes to go until intermission.

After leading by 13 at halftime, 36-23, CSUEB was able to withstand Chico State's flurries throughout the second half.

The Wildcats pulled within four, 59-55, with three minutes left to play, but Wardlow's corner three and a driving layup by Carlisle with 19 seconds remaining helped seal the win.

Cal State East Bay hits the road next week to take on Cal State Dominguez Hills on Thursday, Feb. 6, before facing Cal State LA on Saturday, Feb. 8.