HAYWARD, Calif. — Playing at Pioneer Gymnasium on Thursday evening, No. 10 Cal State East Bay edged Chico State 73-71 in a tense CCAA battle that came down to the final seconds as the Pioneers extended the program's longest winning streak to 13 games and improved to 13-0 overall and 7-0 in conference play.
The night was defined by balance, resilience and timely defense, as Cal State East Bay survived a game that featured 15 lead changes and no advantage larger than 11 points. A series of key defensive stands and second-chance baskets late proved decisive in a contest that never allowed either side to get comfortable.
Chico State struck first and held the early edge, but the opening minutes set the tone for a first half full of swings. The Pioneers' first lead came at the 15:19 mark of the first half when Terence Haywood scored on a hook shot to make it 9-8. From there, neither team could build separation as the lead changed hands nine times in the first half.
After the score was tied at 21-21 with 7:51 remaining, Takai Emerson-Hardy ignited a burst of momentum with a driving layup just 12 seconds later. That basket sparked an 8-0 run that gave East Bay breathing room. Chico State answered with its own push and cut the margin to two, but Cal State East Bay never relinquished the lead again before halftime. In the closing moments of the first half, Andrew Camacho calmly knocked down two free throws to send the Pioneers into the locker room with a 36-32 advantage.
Cal State East Bay (13-0) opened the second half with its most commanding stretch of the night. Just 19 seconds in, Josh Ijeh finished a layup that sparked a run which grew the margin to 11. Jordan Espinoza capped the spurt with a floating jumper at the 17:06 mark, making it 43-32 — the largest lead of the game.
Chico State refused to go away, gradually chipping back with short runs and timely perimeter shooting. The Wildcats repeatedly trimmed the deficit to one possession, and with 5:35 remaining, Cortevious Taylor hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 61-61, erasing East Bay's lead for the first time since the opening half.
The final five minutes turned into a possession-by-possession battle. After a series of traded baskets, the defining moment came with two minutes left. Jaayden Bush had a layup attempt blocked but recovered his own miss and powered back to the rim, finishing through traffic to put the Pioneers back in front, 70-69.
Defense carried Cal State East Bay the rest of the way. Espinoza turned away Chico State's next chance with a block at the 1:40 mark, and Bush secured a critical defensive rebound with 47 seconds remaining. That stop led to Amare Campbell's floater in the lane, pushing the lead to 72-69 with 26 seconds to play.
Chico State still had opportunities. A missed 3-pointer with 13 seconds left was rebounded by Bush, who drew a foul and sank one of two free throws. After a driving layup by the Wildcats made it a two-point game in the final seconds, the Pioneers came up empty at the foul line. But there was not enough time or basket proximity left for Chico State to mount one last rally. The horn sounded with Cal State East Bay on top, 73-71.
Tyree Campbell led the Pioneers with 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field and added eight rebounds. Bush finished with 14 points and eight boards, while Amare Campbell chipped in 12 points. All 11 Pioneers who saw the floor scored at least two points, underscoring the balanced offensive effort. Matt Williams accounted for both of Cal State East Bay's 3-pointers on the night. Ijeh recorded two blocks to give him 17 on the season, tops in the CCAA.
East Bay held a 41-38 edge on the glass. The Wildcats shot 62.1 percent at the stripe and 41.4 percent from the field, while East Bay finished at 54.8 percent from the line and 48.2 percent overall in field goals.
Despite the unbeaten start, Thursday's two-point decision marked the narrowest margin of victory for the Pioneers this season.
"Winning in the CCAA is hard and tonight was certainly an example of that," head coach Bryan Rooney said. "Extremely proud of our guys for staying together down the stretch."
Cal State East Bay will look to close out its four-game CCAA homestand strong on Saturday when Cal Poly Humboldt visits Pioneer Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Hayward.
