SAN MARCOS, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino men's basketball team was eliminated from the CCAA Tournament after falling to Chico State 75=70 in the semifinal round Friday afternoon at the Sports Center.

With the defeat, the Coyotes drop to 22-11 overall on the season.

Chico State got off to a strong start, jumping out to an 8-3 lead just 2:22 into the contest, but the Yotes stopped the bleeding when Andrew Henderson (Chatsworth, Calif.) converted a mid-range and-one, cutting the deficit to two. 

The Coyotes went nearly four and a half minutes without scoring midway through the first half as Chico State built up a 10-point lead at 24-14, but a Charlie Henderson (Ladera Ranch, Calif.) three and a driving layup from former Wildcat Evan Oliver (San Bernardino, Calif.) put the Yotes back into the game and forced a Chico timeout with 5:24 remaining in the half.

CSUSB continued to roll out of the timeout, scoring eight of the next 10 points to take its first lead of the game with 2:27 left until halftime on a driving lay-in from Oliver. The Wildcats hopped back in front by three in the final minute of the half, but a triple from Charlie Henderson on CSUSB's final possession of the period sent the contest to halftime knotted at 33-33.

Oliver and Charlie Henderson each poured in 11 points in the first half to lead the Coyotes, while Oliver had five assists and a pair of steals. Charlie Henderson was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, while Andrew Henderson scored seven points with four rebounds.

CSUSB took a six-point lead when Oliver and Charlie Henderson hit back-to-back threes in the first minute of the second half, but Chico State responded right away, scoring the next seven points to take a 40-39 lead.

The teams traded punches for the balance of the second half, with neither team leading by more than two possessions the entire way. The Yotes trailed by just a point at 71-70 with a little over two and a half to go after a layup by Charlie Henderson, but that would be the last time the Yotes would score. Down three points in the final seconds, a three-point try missed the mark and Chico State knocked down a pair of free throws to seal the win.

Oliver and Charlie Henderson each finished the game with 21 points, with Oliver dishing out 11 assists for the lone Coyote double-double. Andrew Henderson had 17 points, the only other Yote in double figures.

The Coyotes, currently ranked fifth in the West Region, will await the NCAA Division II Selection Show on Sunday night at 8 p.m. to find out their NCAA Tournament fate.

#GoYotes