LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The #20 California State University San Bernardino men's basketball team opened the 2024 NCAA Tournament in the win column on Friday afternoon, knocking off the University of Alaska Anchorage 52-49 in a low-scoring affair at University Gym.

With the victory, the Yotes improve to 24-7 overall on the season and advance to the Round of 32, where they will face CCAA foe Chico State on Saturday at 5 p.m.

CSUSB ran out to an early 19-8 lead in the first 12 minutes of the contest, which would prove to be their largest lead of the game. The Seawolves battled back to close the gap to just five at 26-21 by the halftime buzzer. 

The Coyotes and Seawolves combined to shoot just 36.9 percent (17-for-46) in the low-scoring first half. Junior Chris Mitchell (Oceanside, Calif.) led all players in the first half in both scoring and rebounding with 12 and seven.

Alaska Anchorage continued climbing back into the contest early in the second half as the shooting woes continued for both sides. The Seawolves took their first lead since the score was 6-5 eight minutes into the half at 36-34, and again at 41-40 with 6:30 to play. 

With the Coyotes ahead 50-49 and Alaska Anchorage looking for the game-winner, senior Robby Robinson (San Diego, Calif.) came up with a clutch steal with four seconds remaining and knocked down a pair of free throws, giving the game its final score. A desperation three at the horn fell short for the Seawolves, and the Coyotes advanced to meet Chico State.

Mitchell finished as the game's leading scorer and rebounder with 16 points, 10-board double-double. Sedrick Altman (Rialto, Calif.) was the only other Coyote in double figures, posting 12 points in the win.

The Coyotes shot just 36.9 percent (17-for-46) from the floor in the contest, and just 7.1 percent (1-for-14) from beyond the arc. Senior Jalen Flanagan (Oceanside, Calif.) hit the game's only three-pointer for CSUSB midway through the second half.

Saturday evening's contest between Cal State San Bernardino and Chico State will be the teams' third meeting of the season. CSUSB won both contests, on November 30 and February 10.