HAYWARD, Calif. - Cal State East Bay men's basketball returned home for its first game of the 2024 calendar year as they took on Cal Poly Humboldt in CCAA play. The Pioneers rode a strong first half performance to a 78-67 victory over the Lumberjacks to extend their winning streak to eight games and remain undefeated in conference play.
 

GAME SUMMARY

In the first half, neither team would score a basket for the first 2:46 of action. The Lumberjacks led by as much as five, at 23-18, on a Rob Diaz dunk with 7:45 left in the first half. From that point, the Pioneers answered with a 9-2 run, capped by a Daeshawn Eaton three-pointer with 4:05 left, to take the lead for good at 27-25. Cal State East Bay led 37-29 by halftime with the run capped off by a Tyree Campbell three-pointer in the final minute of the half. 
 
In the second half, the Pioneers would hold the Lumberjacks at arms' length. led by as much as 13 points, ahead 53-40 at the 14:06 mark on a Campbell three-pointer.  Cal Poly Humboldt closed the deficit to as little as a point, trailing 57-56 with 9:25 remaining in the game. However, the Pioneers pulled away to win 78-67 for their eighth victory in a row.
 

NOTABLE STATS

• Campbell had a season high 28 points to lead the Pioneers in scoring as he went 10-for-15 from the floor, with three baskets from beyond the arc and made five free throws.
• Also scoring in double figures for CSUEB were Grady Lewis with 15 points, Dimitrios Klonaras had 13 and Eaton with 12. 
• Lewis and Klonaras had seven rebounds each. 
• Defensively, Klonaras had five blocks. 
• Diaz had twenty one points for the Lumberjacks.
• The Pioneers shot 52.5 percent from the field, while the Lumberjacks shot 39.1 percent.
• Cal Poly Humboldt had a 38-34 rebounding edge in Thursday's game. 

POSTGAME QUOTE

Cal State East Bay head coach Bryan Rooney following the Pioneers' ninth straight win: 
"Conference wins never come easy and tonight was no different. I was especially proud of the leadership shown by Chris [James]. We were plus 20 when he was on the floor. It was great to see Tyree play with so much confidence - he was special on the offensive end. We have a great challenge on Saturday against Chico and are excited for the Pioneer faithful to be out in full force."
 

RECORDS

Cal State East Bay: 10-2, 6-0 CCAA
Cal Poly Humboldt: 3-8, 0-6 CCAA 
 

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

The Pioneers will continue their homestand Saturday night as they take on No. 20 Chico State at Pioneer Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm.