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SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - For the first time in Cal State LA men's basketball's 76-year history, the Golden Eagles can call themselves CCAA Tournament Champions. The journey to this historic accomplishment did not come easy. Cal State LA had to win three games in three days, two over higher-seeded opponents, to earn the right to lift the hardware. It completed its feat tonight with a 73-62 comeback win over the top seed and host, Cal State San Bernardino. (Mar. 9)
 
All five Golden Eagle starters scored in double figures, with Eche Okeke, the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, leading the way with 19 points and nine rebounds. Corey Cofield, Shane Bell, and Deuce Walker had 12 points apiece, and they combined to go 12-of-14 from the free throw line. Walker added six rebounds, four assists, and five steals. A'Jahni Levias posted 10 points and three assists.
 
Christopher Mitchell put together a phenomenal performance in the losing effort for Cal State San Bernardino. He went 6-of-9 from the field (6-of-6 on 2-pointers) and 9-of-12 at the free throw line to score a game-high 21 points. He also grabbed 16 rebounds (14 defensive) to tie for the third-most in a game in CCAA tournament history. Sedrick Altman scored 15 points and knocked down three of the Coyotes' four 3-pointers in the game (4-of-20). Robby Robinson added nine points and nine rebounds.
 
This was the third game of the season played between these two teams. The home team had won the earlier matchups, and it looked like the pattern would continue when CSUSB opened the game on a 9-2 run. Cal State LA began 1-of-6 from the field with two turnovers and two missed free throws. CSLA would make a 10-3 run to tie the game at 14-14.
 
However, the Golden Eagles would not take the lead until the final minutes of the half, a sequence coach Jim Saia would mention as critical to the win. Trailing 31-26, Cal State LA went on a 6-0 spurt with baskets by Cofield and Okeke and a pair of free throws from Levias to grab the lead and take a big momentum swing into halftime.  
 
CSUSB would go back in front early in the second half before Cal State LA put together the run that would win it the title. From the 14-minute mark to the 8-minute mark, Cal State LA outscored CSUSB 17-2 to turn a two-point deficit into a 13-point lead. Of the 15 points scored, 11 came at the free throw line (11-of-12). Cal State LA finished 23-of-24 from the line.
 
Cal State San Bernardino would find some offensive rhythm and go on a 12-4 run to cut Cal State LA's lead to 59-54 with 4:28 remaining. Again, Cal State LA called Okeke's number. He made a free throw and then hit a contested layup to push the lead back to eight (62-54).
 
The Golden Eagles defense forced turnovers on three of the next four possessions, and Shane Bell's 3-pointer gave CSLA a 10-point lead with 2:32 left. CSUSB tried to get the ball to drop from behind the arc in the last minutes, but they were 0-for-3 from deep. A few additional free throws and dunks by Cofield and Bell sealed the win for the Golden Eagles, who outscored CSUSB in the second half 41-31.
 
In addition to its strong performance at the free throw line, Cal State LA also won the turnover battle 19-9 and had 10 steals to the Coyotes' two. CSUSB had the rebounding edge 41-34, including 11-7 on the offensive glass, but Cal State LA still managed to outscore the Coyotes in second-chance points 12-9.
 
Eche Okeke was joined on the CCAA all-tournament team by his teammates Shane Bell and Corey Cofield. Chris Mitchell represented the Coyotes. Cal State East Bay's Tyree Campbell was the fifth member.
 
Cal State LA will receive the CCAA's automatic bid to next week's NCAA West Regional. The Golden Eagles were ranked No. 2 in the poll released one day before the tournament. Cal State San Bernardino is expected to earn an at-large bid after being ranked No. 1 last week. The seeds and the host location for the 2024 NCAA West Regional will be announced on Sunday, March 10, at 8 p.m. on NCAA.com.