Cal State East Bay rallies to stay unbeaten, reach Division II men's basketball regional final

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Cal State East Bay erased a seven-point deficit with a game-closing 18-2 run to reach the West Regional final in the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament. The Pioneers, the top seed in the West Regional, defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills 76-67 on Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16, where they will face third-seeded Point Loma on Monday.

Why it matters

Cal State East Bay's comeback victory keeps the Pioneers undefeated at 32-0 on the season and puts them one step closer to a potential national championship. The win also marks the continued success of the school's men's basketball program, which has emerged as a Division II powerhouse in recent years.

The details

Cal State East Bay trailed by six in the first half before closing the gap to 38-36 at halftime. The teams traded leads early in the second half, but Cal State Dominguez Hills eventually built a 65-58 advantage with 6:28 remaining. From that point, the Pioneers went on an 18-2 run, holding the Toros scoreless from the field during that stretch. Amare Campbell led Cal State East Bay with 20 points, while Tyree Campbell added 14 and Jaayden Bush and Jalen Foy each scored 11.

• Cal State East Bay opened the tournament with a win over Cal Poly Humboldt State on Friday night.
• The Pioneers and Toros were tied 38-38 at halftime on Saturday.
• Cal State Dominguez Hills built a 65-58 lead with 6:28 remaining in the second half.
• Cal State East Bay then went on an 18-2 run to close out the game.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Cal State East Bay, the top seed in the West Regional, will face third-seeded Point Loma in a Sweet 16 game in Hayward on Monday. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be held March 25 in Indianapolis.