WALNUT CREEK, Calif.  – Cal State East Bay guard Mark Samuels has been named the California Collegiate Athletic Association's (CCAA) men's basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 13-19, it was announced on Monday. Samuels is the second Pioneer men's basketball player to receive CCAA Player of the Week honors this season. Roshun Wynne received CCAA Player of the Week honors for the week of November 28-December 4.

Samuels, a junior from Berkeley, Calif., helped the Pioneers to three wins that kept their CCAA Tournament hopes alive. He averaged 17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 48.5 percent (16-for-33) from the field, including 53.8 percent (7-for-13) from beyond the 3-point arc, and 82.4 percent (14-for-17) from the foul line.

During a 91-67 win at Cal State Monterey Bay on Tuesday, Samuels scored 17 points, totaled seven rebounds and six assists. He then tallied 18 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in a big 74-72 victory over playoff bound Cal State San Bernardino. Samuels, the fourth leading scorer in the CCAA, concluded the weekend with 18 points, two rebounds and two assists in an 83-71 win over UC San Diego.

The Pioneers, 8-12 in CCAA play, currently trails Cal State Stanislaus by two games with two to play for the final CCAA Playoff spot.

Cal State East Bay will conclude the regular season with crucial games against Cal State Stanislaus on February 23 and Chico State on February 24.

Cal State East Bay closes out regular season play with a pair of key games against Cal State Stanislaus and Chico State on Thursday and Friday, respectively. The Pioneers currently trail Cal State Stanislaus by two games with two to play.