HAYWARD, Calif.—Point Loma’s magical 2025-26 basketball season came to an end on Monday night in Pioneer Gymnasium at the hands of a team having a season for the ages.

Host and No. 1 seed CSU East Bay defeated the Sea Lions 73-58 in front of packed house of nearly 3,000 Pioneer fans. They will advance to the NCAA Elite Eight in Pittsburgh. The Pioneers improved to an astounding 34-0, while Point Loma wraps up at 27-6.

Point Loma was hounded all night by a relentless CSU East Bay defense. Nonetheless, Point Loma led 31-30 at the break after leading almost the entire first half. The visitors were up 20-12 after a Caden Harris three-pointer with 9:25 before the break, and even after the Pioneers came back, Harris hit another trey with a minute left to take the one-point lead.

But the CCAA champs took control early in the second half. Tyree Campbell hit two treys to lead a 15-4 run and the Pioneers would never trail again. Point Loma, because of CSUEB’s defense, had trouble finding the range from outside and didn’t get their first trey in the second half until 9:20 was left on the clock, on a Tyce Paulsen bomb to cut the lead to 49-45.

Andrew Nagy would hit a trey with 8:35 remaining to cut the deficit to one (59-58), but PLNU could get no closer. A Paulsen 4-point play with 1:15 made it 64-58, but the Pioneers finished the game on a 7-0 run to close out.

Nagy finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. Jaden Matingou had 13 points before fouling out, and Paulsen and Harris both had 11.

Point Loma was making their fourth trip to the West Region finals after winning the PacWest Conference regular season and tournament titles. 

Campbell had 20 to lead all scorers. CSUEB forced Point Loma into 24 turnovers and won the contest despite shooting just 54 percent from the free throw line.