Box score

HAYWARD, Calif. – The Pioneer men's basketball team rallied from a 13-point second half deficit to defeat Sonoma State 89-85 in the CCAA opener for both schools.

The victory gives the Pioneers a 1-0 record in CCAA play and improves their season record to 3-2. Sonoma State stands at 0-1 in the CCAA and 2-3 overall.                                                                                           

“We hit some big shots and came up with clutch plays in the second half,” Pioneer coach Will Biggs said. “We believed in each other and came away with a big conference win.”

Roshun Wynne scored 15 points in the second half and finished with 24 for the Pioneers. Mark Samuels also scored 24 points on 9 of 14 from the field and led the Pioneers on the boards with eight rebounds.

The Pioneers had three other players scored in double figures as Quinton Lilley had a season-high 11 points while Jason Smith and Jurrell Turner had 10 each.

Steven Pratt led four Sonoma State players in double figures with 16 points.

Patrick Scott completed a three-point play to give Sonoma State a 60-47 lead with 14:32 remaining in the second half.

Wynne converted a pair of three-pointers to narrow the Seawolves' lead to 62-57 with 11:16 left.

The Pioneers tied the game 62-62 with 10:03 remaining on a three-point basket by Jacari Whitfield.

A second three-pointer by Whitfield gave the Pioneers their first lead since early in the first half, 65-64 at the 8:53 mark.

Wynne's three-point basket with 5:20 remaining gave the Pioneers a 78-69 lead.

The Seawolves rallied as Will Olsem hit a three-pointer to trim the Pioneers' lead to 81-79 with 2:35 left.

Mark Samuels made a lay-up with 2:12 left to give the Pioneers an 83-79 advantage.

Sonoma State had a chance to tie the game, but missed the back end of two free throw attempts. Both missed free attempts were rebounded by Samuels.

Smith secured the hard earned victory for the Pioneers by converting four free throws in the final 14 seconds.

The game opened with six lead changes in the first four minutes.

The Seawolves jumped out to a 21-12 advantage with 11:36 remaining.

Wynne hit a three-pointer with 9:10 left to cut the Seawolves lead to 21-18.

Lilley, who came off the bench to score seven points in the first half, had a dunk shot with 1:57 remaining as the Pioneers trailed 41-36 with 1:57 remaining.

The Pioneers will host CCAA defending champion Humboldt State on Saturday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m.