EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The CSUSB men's basketball team fell to No. 1 Nova Southeastern on Thursday afternoon, ending their historic season in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. The 2022-23 team will undoubtedly go down as the best team to ever wear CSUSB across their chest, breaking the program scoring record, win record, and tying the deepest run in the NCAA Tournament in program history. Their 31 wins surpasses the 28 set by the 2001-02 team, and their 3,094 points completely shatters the 2,520 points set by the 2006-07 team – who also made the Final Four.
The No. 4 seeded Yotes certainly did not back down to the challenge against the undefeated No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks. The Sharks quickly got out to a lead, reaching as high as 16 points in the first half. However, CSUSB battled back, bringing the lead down to just five headed into halftime. The game remained very close the entirety of the second half, as the Sharks were doing everything in their power to cling on to a five-point lead. With four minutes remaining, the Yotes were able to bring the game within two. A series of unfortunate calls sent NSU to the line nine times, allowing them to maintain just enough separation to hang on for the win.
Back-to-back All-American
Brandon Knapper put an exclamation mark on his record setting CSUSB career, making 32 points in the Final Four game while tying a season high eight treys – the fourth time he has done so this season. The all-time CSUSB three-point record holder finishes his decorated career with 197 threes in just 58 games played, while ranking fourth in all-time scoring with 1,164 points in just two seasons.
Dontrell Shuler,
Sedrick Altman, and
Mahmoud Fofana all scored double digits against the Sharks to keep the game within reach. The calls certainly did not go in favor of the Yotes, as they recorded 30 personal fouls with three players fouling out to the Shark's 18. Those 30 fouls are the most in a game since January 3, 2019 when they recorded 31 versus Chico State.
Despite coming one game short of playing for the national championship, Coach
Andy Newman and the Dino Boys had an unbelievably successful season and have left their legacy on Cal State San Bernardino. Newman's coaching record at CSUSB improves to 91-30 (.752), while going an incredible 55-8 (.873) in the last two seasons.
Key Accomplishments
- Only team to 30+ wins in CSUSB History.
- Only team to 3,000 points in CSUSB History.
- Undefeated at home (11-0).
- Four CCAA Players of the Week.
- Five All-CCAA Selections, including four First Team.
- CCAA Defender of the Year.
- CCAA Newcomer of the Year.
- CCAA Coach of the Year.
- CCAA Regular Season Champions.
- CCAA Tournament Champions.
- Ended No. 4 Point Loma's 25-game win streak in front of a sold out crowd.
- NCAA West Region Champions.
- All-time CSUSB three-point record holder.
- Back-to-back All-American.
- NCAA Final Four Appearance.
#DinoBoys
