HAYWARD, Calif. — In a closely contested CCAA matchup, Cal State San Marcos edged out Cal State East Bay men's basketball, 68-66 on Thursday evening at Pioneer Gymnasium. The Pioneers battled throughout the game, overcoming multiple deficits but ultimately couldn't secure the victory against the Cougars.
The first half saw both teams trading leads. CSUSM built an early advantage, going up by as much as 10 points. However, East Bay fought back, taking a brief 38-37 lead on a free throw by Blessing Nwotite with 1:57 left in the half. The Cougars reclaimed the lead on a 3-pointer by Kyelin King, entering halftime with a slim 40-38 advantage.
The second half mirrored the first, with the Cougars again stretching their lead to 11 points, 58-47, with 9:07 remaining. The Pioneers, showing resilience, clawed their way back into the game. Tyree Campbell's layup and subsequent free throw tied the score at 62-62 with just over four minutes left.
The game remained tight in the closing minutes, with Beril Kabamba's layup knotting the score at 66-66 with 29 seconds on the clock. However, Cal State San Marcos managed to score the decisive basket with just over three seconds remaining. East Bay had a final opportunity to tie or win but couldn't convert, resulting in the 68-66 defeat.
- Campbell led the Pioneers with a game-high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including three 3-pointers.
- Kabamba contributed 13 points and a team-high six rebounds, while Ramsey Huff added 12 points.
- The Pioneers showed a balanced effort on the boards, with all 11 players who entered the game recording at least one rebound. However, San Marcos held a slight edge overall in rebounding, 34-31.
- Shooting efficiency proved to be a key factor, with the Cougars hitting 44.9 percent of their field goals compared to East Bay's 38.9 percent.
Cal State East Bay: 4-7, 2-3 CCAA
Cal State San Marcos: 1-9, 1-3 CCAA
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
The Pioneers will look to bounce back in their next CCAA matchup against Sonoma State on Saturday, January 4 at Pioneer Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
