The Riverside Press-Enterprise
CSUSB wins NCAA D-II basketball West Regional
Coyotes are known for their irrepressible spirits.
Tough and durable to its core, the Cal State San Bernardino men’s basketball team bounced back from losing in the CCAA Tournament championship game to win three consecutive games and claim the NCAA Division II West Regional tournament title for the second straight year.
“I don’t ever think a loss helps you, but it certainly keeps you on your toes,” head coach Gus Argenal said. “Maybe to lose the (CCAA) championship game, it kept us really hungry and not as fine with where we were, and I think it allowed us to stay hungry going into this and feeling like we need a chance to cut down some nets at some point.
“It was a great opportunity for us. And the hope now is that we keep these guys understanding what we have to play for next week, and if you go one-in-a-row then you can do some special stuff.”
The Coyotes (26-7 overall) got a game-high 25 points from Chris Mitchell in a 74-67 victory over Azusa Pacific on Monday night in the West Regional final at Cal State L.A.’S University Gym to secure a second consecutive trip to the Division II Elite Eight, which begins Tuesday, March 26, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ill.
“It’s all about the guys that are wearing the uniforms, but in coming into the job, you look at the guys who came before, just like the players look at the players who came before,” said Argenal, who was hired before this season.
“Coach (Jeff) Oliver, Coach (Larry) Reynolds, etc., all these guys that have been such great coaches, and you just want to try to put a banner up for your team,