HONOLULU, HI – The No. 7 ranked CSUSB men's basketball team fell to No. 8 Central Oklahoma on Saturday night in the final game of the Hoops in Hawai'i Thanksgiving Classic. With the loss, the Yotes conclude their non-conference schedule with a 5-1 record. For the second straight season, CSUSB opened the season with five consecutive wins. In 2021, the Yotes were able to extend that streak to seven games before suffering their first loss – the first time they have done so since the 2007-08 season.
The much-anticipated matchup between the two nationally-ranked opponents did not disappoint, as the game remained within four points until the final two minutes. CSUSB remained on top for nearly the entire first half, carrying a 40-36 lead into half.
The No. 8 Bronchos eradicated that lead within the first four minutes of the second half, quickly taking a 43-42 lead with 16:28 on the clock. Over the next ten minutes of play, there were a staggering 11 lead changes between the two squads, essentially trading punches with every basket made. When the dust settled, UCO carried a four-point lead with two minutes remaining. They would then go on a 13-5 run to close out the game and seal the win over the Yotes.
Brandon Knapper and
Eddie Davis were named to the 2022 Hoops in Hawaii Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team, it was announced after the game.
Knapper once again led the scoring for the Yotes, posting 17 points while also recording three rebounds and three assists. The reigning CCAA Player of the Week went 5-for-12 from three-point range, accounting for all but two of the team's treys. Davis was close behind with 16 points, shooting 54 percent from the field.
Up Next
The Yotes will open up CCAA play with three games on the road, before welcoming Cal State East Bay for their home opener on December 16
th. The first of those three games will be at San Francisco State this coming Thursday, December 1
st, at 7:30 PM. They will then head south to Cal State Monterey Bay for a 3:00 PM game on Saturday, December 3
rd. You can catch the action on the CCAA Network at
ccaanetwork.com.
To see the full CSUSB men's basketball schedule, click HERE.
