HAYWARD, Calif. — Behind a blistering second-half surge and a balanced, share-the-ball attack, No. 5 Cal State East Bay rolled past Cal State Monterey Bay, 92-71, on Saturday evening at Pioneer Gymnasium to extend its unbeaten season.
The Pioneers used a decisive opening stretch after halftime to turn a competitive night into a runaway, highlighted by an 11-0 run that flipped momentum for good. The win pushed East Bay to 18-0 overall and a perfect 12-0 mark in California Collegiate Athletic Association play, keeping the top-five squad firmly in control atop the conference standings.
The opening minutes of the first half unfolded as a back-and-forth affair, with neither side able to seize lasting control. The lead changed hands repeatedly as both teams found rhythm offensively, and the game remained tight well into the final four minutes. With 3:30 left before the break, Tyree Campbell slipped in for a tip-in that tied the score at 32-all, a moment that ignited a surge for the home side. Feeding off energy in the building, Cal State East Bay closed the half on a 10-3 run, creating separation with finishes in the paint and timely defensive stops to take a 42-35 lead into halftime.
East Bay (18-0, 12-0 CCAA) wasted little time asserting itself in the second half. A layup from Joshua Ijeh at the 17:04 mark sparked an 11-point flurry without response, capped by a 3-pointer from Ramsey Huff just over two minutes later. The burst pushed the lead to 59-43 and forced the Otters onto their heels. Each time Monterey Bay hinted at a comeback, the Pioneers answered with physical rebounding and second-chance opportunities, repeatedly extending possessions and wearing down the visitors.
Another emphatic stretch midway through the second half erased any doubt. In less than two minutes, East Bay scored eight unanswered points, punctuated by powerful dunks from Takai Emerson-Hardy and Ijeh to stretch the margin to 85-61. From there, the Pioneers cruised to the finish, closing out their 18th straight win in command.
The victory showcased East Bay's depth and offensive balance. All five starters scored in double figures, led by Campbell and Jaayden Bush with 15 points apiece. Ijeh and Jalen Foy each added 13, while Huff chipped in 12. Campbell was efficient from the floor, going 7-for-13, and the offense flowed throughout the night as the Pioneers totaled 23 assists on 35 made field goals. Amare Campbell dished out a team-high five assists, and Foy led the rebounding effort with seven boards as East Bay won the battle on the glass, 49-30.
Interior play was a major factor, with the Pioneers piling up 58 points in the paint. Defensively, Ijeh continued his disruptive presence around the rim, swatting three shots to give him a conference-best 21 blocks on the season. East Bay shot 48.6 percent from the floor compared to 43.3 percent for Monterey Bay.
"Our guys played for each other tonight," head coach Bryan Rooney said. "I loved our unselfishness on both ends. Having 23 assists and only five turnovers was huge. We need a great week of practice to prepare for two tough teams."
Cal State East Bay returns to the road for a key conference matchup on Thursday, Jan. 29, traveling to Cal Poly Pomona. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Kellogg Gymnasium in Pomona, Calif. The Pioneers earned a 70-59 win over the Broncos in the first meeting on Jan. 4 and will look to remain unbeaten as the conference race continues.
