Box score
HAYWARD, Calif. – Prior to the start of the season and CCAA play, the Pioneer men's basketball team was predicted to finish last in the conference according to the coaches poll. Humboldt State was picked to repeat as the CCAA champion. The two teams met at Pioneer Gym on December 3 and Cal State East Bay displayed the heart of a champion in defeating No. 6 Humboldt State, 88-82.
The Pioneers are now 2-0 in the CCAA and 4-2 overall. Last season, the Pioneers finished 2-20 in CCAA play and 4-22 for the season.
“We've been working hard and it really paid off in the win over Humboldt State,” Pioneer coach Will Biggs said. “This was a great team win. We were tough on the boards and converted 27 of 33 free throws. Those were two areas we ranked last in the CCAA a year ago.”
Mark Samuels hit a basket and a pair of free throws as the Pioneers grabbed an early 8-0 advantage. Humboldt State scored five unanswered points to cut the Pioneers lead to 8-5.
The Pioneers went on an 8-2 run to lead 16-7 with 12:20 left in the first half. East Bay maintained a nine-point lead, 31-22, with 4:06 remaining.
Nick Marshall converted a basket with 2:10 left and Samuels made a lay-up with six seconds left to give the Pioneers a 40-29 lead.
The Lumberjacks' Brandon Sperling hit a shot from over the half court line as time expired in the first half.
Humboldt State went on a 15-0 run to take a 47-40 lead with 15:29 left in the game.
The Pioneers battled back as
Tre Mauldin hit a three-pointer with 9:50 left to trim the Lumberjacks advantage to 56-55.
Roshun Wynne, who hurt his ankle earlier in the second half, converted a three-pointer to give the Pioneers a 58-57 lead. The Pioneers increased their margin to 67-60 with 5:59 remaining on
Jacari Whitfield and
Jason Smith three pointers and a pair of free throws by Samuels and
Quinton Lilley.
A pair of free throws by Wynne gave the Pioneers an 82-71 lead with 54 seconds left. Smith, who scored all 11 of his points in the second half, secured the victory for the Pioneers with five free throws in the final minute of the game.
Marshall led a balanced Pioneer scoring attack with 15 points. Whitfield and Lilley each scored 12 points. Lilley was 5 of 7 from the field. Samuels and Smith followed with 11 each. Wynne, who scored nine points, led the Pioneers with a season-high 11 rebounds.
Sperling led Humboldt State (1-1 CCAA, 5-1) with a game-high 24 points.
The Pioneers will host Cal State Dominguez Hills on December 18 at 3:00 p.m.
