ARCATA, Calif. — Cal State East Bay men's basketball secured its first CCAA victory of the season Saturday evening, defeating Cal Poly Humboldt 81-76 at Lumberjack Arena.
The Pioneers overcame a 36-32 halftime deficit with a decisive 17-6 run early in the second half. Beril Kabamba ignited the surge, contributing 10 points during the stretch that set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Despite never extending their lead beyond nine points, the Pioneers maintained control throughout the second half. Clutch free throws from Kabamba and Tyree Campbell in the closing minutes sealed the win for East Bay.
- Beril Kabamba scored a season-high 23 points, going 7-for-5 from the floor and 7-for-8 in free throws. He has reached double figures in scoring in all seven games this season for the Pioneers. He also had a team high eight rebounds and four steals
- Also scoring in double figures for East Bay were Tyree Campbell (16 points) and Payden White (10 points).
- Josiah Sanders led all scorers with 24 points for the Lumberjacks in the losing effort.
- The Pioneers shot an impressive 51.8 percent from the field compared to Humboldt's 44.1 percent. Although outrebounded 32-29, East Bay's efficient scoring and key defensive plays proved decisive.
Cal State East Bay head coach
Bryan Rooney emphasized the significance of the win, stating:
"This was a huge win tonight for several important reasons. First, Humboldt is very good. They are well-coached with excellent players and it is tough to win here. Second, tonight was a gut check. After Thursday night, we had some soul searching to do. I loved the mindset our guys showed tonight and the togetherness we showed. Now, we need to build."
Cal State East Bay: 2-5, 1-2 CCAA
Cal Poly Humboldt: 4-3, 1-2 CCAA
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
The Pioneers will look to build on this momentum as they face Seattle Pacific in a non-conference matchup on Saturday, December 14. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Royal Brougham Pavilion in Seattle.
