SAN FRANCISCO – Needing only one win to secure a spot in the CCAA Tournament, the Cal State East Bay men's basketball team played its final regular season game on Saturday at San Francisco State. The Pioneers and Gators went to overtime, and SF State finished with a 79-77 win as the Pioneers were eliminated from postseason contention with the combination of a loss and other CCAA action on Saturday.
The Pioneers led by as many as 13 points in the first half, including the 10:47 mark when
Ramsey Huff made a layup for a 22-9 lead. However, SF State came back to eventually tie the game at 32-32 with 1:15 left before the break.
Dimitrios Klonaras made a 3-pointer and
Grady Lewis made a free throw in the final minute of the half for a 36-32 halftime lead.
Cal State East Bay led early in the second half until the 12:15 mark when the Gators tied the game at 47-47.
With a close game, both teams battled down the stretch. With 25 seconds remaining,
Tim Andreolli made a 3-pointer to give CSUEB a 64-60 lead. However, seconds later, Jalen Flanagan scored the final four points of regulation to force overtime even at 64-64.
The Gators scored the first five points of overtime, and held on to a lead throughout. The Pioneers were within two points with 21 seconds left when Klonaras made a layup, as SF State lead 79-77.
SF State was fouled thereafter, but missed a pair of free throws. Then with one opportunity left to tie or win the game on offense, the Pioneers came up short and lost 79-77.
- Andreolli, Lewis and Garrett Pascoe scored 15 points each on Saturday. Pascoe's 15 points was a season-high.
- With his 12 rebounds, Lewis finished with a double double.
- Defensively, Chris James has four steals.
- Andreolli finished his career with 323 points in two seasons with the program and had 200 rebounds.
- With Chico State's win and the Pioneers' loss, Cal State East Bay was eliminated from qualifying for the CCAA Tournament.
Cal State East Bay: 12-16, 10-12 CCAA
SF State: 10-16, 8-13 CCAA
