HAYWARD, Calif. - Cal State East Bay stayed perfect and protected Pioneer Gym Thursday night, edging Chico State 73–71 in a CCAA thriller that featured 15 lead changes and went down to the final second. Chico State falls to 3-4 CCAA (5-7 overall) while Cal State East Bay protects it's undefeated season at 7-0 in CCAA play (13-0 overall)

How it happened
East Bay carried a 36–32 halftime lead after grinding out points inside and at the line, then spent the second half answering every Chico push. The Pioneers' biggest edge all night came in the paint (46–32) and in transition (14–5 fast-break points), keeping them afloat even as Chico found rhythm late with timely threes and trips to the stripe.

Chico State came up just short Thursday night, falling 73–71 at Cal State East Bay in a tightly contested CCAA matchup at Pioneer Gym. The Wildcats battled to the final horn and had a chance in the closing seconds, but the Pioneers made enough late plays to stay unbeaten.

After trailing 36–32 at halftime, Chico State responded with strong energy in the second half, repeatedly answering East Bay runs and keeping the game within one possession throughout the final stretch. The Wildcats attacked the paint, won second-chance opportunities on the glass, and used timely shooting to erase deficits and briefly take the lead late. The Wildcat outscored the hosts in the closing half, keeping them on their heels throughout and only allowing two baskets from beyond the outer rim of the court. 

The Wildcats defense held the Pioneers to only .095 percent shooting from three-point range, their worst far range shooting performance all season. Free-throw shooting continues to be a point of interest in Chico State's game, shooting 62-percent from the line and missing eleven of their 29 attempts. Chico State currently sits in 9th in the conference in free-throw percentage, averaging 64-percent this season. 

In the final minutes, Chico State surged ahead on a clutch three, but East Bay countered with a quick basket and free throws in the closing seconds. Chico scored with one second remaining to cut the margin to two, but time ran out before the Wildcats could complete the comeback, ending a hard-fought road effort against the league's top team. Despite the heartbreak of the game slipping away, the Wildcats battled one of the last five undefeated teams in the nation to their tightest margin win forcing the Pioneers to remain vigilant throughout all 40-minutes of the contest.

Winning time (final 3 minutes)

• With East Bay clinging to a narrow lead, Matt Williams buried a 3 to make it 68–66 (2:59).

• Chico answered right back when Cortevious Taylor drilled a 3 to swing it to 69–68 Wildcats (2:33).

• East Bay responded immediately: Jaayden Bush finished a layup to reclaim the lead, 70–69 (2:00).

• Amare Campbell's jumper pushed it to 72–69 (0:26), and Bush added a free throw for 73–69 (0:09).

• Chico had the last punch—Donovan Desha scored with 0:01 left to cut it to 73–71, but East Bay survived the final inbound to seal it.

Standouts

Chico State (5–7, 3–4 CCAA)

• Cortevious Taylor: 20 points, 3 threes, 9–15 FT

• Chris Holley: 15 points, 3 assists (played 40 minutes)

• Isaiah Brewington: 11 points, 6 rebounds

Team numbers that told the story

• Free throws: East Bay 17–31, Chico 18–29

• Rebounds: East Bay 41, Chico 38

• Turnovers: 8 each

• Paint points: East Bay 46, Chico 32