Box Score MARIETTA, Ga. – The top-seeded Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team will play for the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Conference Championship after taking down fourth-seeded West Virginia Tech in the tournament semifinals on Saturday afternoon at the Eagles' Nest.

CSUSM improves to 29-1 overall and increases its winning streak to 20 games. WVU Tech drops to 19-13.

The Cougars struggled out of the gate due to some cold shooting and would rely on its role players and bench to sustain the offense. The Cougars were able to take a one-point halftime lead before opening up a gap over WVU Tech in the second stanza. CSUSM was able to hold off WVTU Tech to advance to the conference title game for the second time in the program's first three seasons.

De'End Parker led the Cougars with 13 points and Bryan Emanuel came in off the bench to contribute 12. Emanuel was 4-of-5 from the floor and 3-of-3 from behind the arc in his second game back from an extended hiatus. Jason Johnson and Adam Eakles each had 10.

Zack Zaragoza and Bobby Macias contributed 10 points and seven points off the bench, respectively. Macias added six assists and three steals, both game highs.

The Golden Bears took an early 11-6 advantage, but the Cougars responded with a 6-2 stretch to take a quick two-point lead, 15-13, with just over 10 minutes remaining in the frame. CSUSM eventually took a 31-30 lead into the break.

The second half featured six lead changes and a trio of ties, but CSUSM eventually extended its lead to as many as 12. The Golden Bears were able to trim the lead to four in the latter moments. The Cougars responded by draining 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal a seven-point victory.

CSUSM will play host No. 3-seed Life (Ga.) at 1:00 PM on Sunday for an automatic berth to the NAIA Tournament.

Life topped CSUSM in the 2012 A.I.I. final, 90-65, ending the Cougars' inagural season.