Box score
CARSON, Calif. – The Pioneer men's basketball team played hard for 40 minutes in a 64-58 defeat to Cal State Dominguez Hills on January 28.
Cal State East Bay stands at 5-8 in CCAA play and 7-10 for the season.
Cal State Dominguez Hills remained in a tie for first place with Cal Poly Pomona in the CCAA with a 10-4 record. The Toros improved to 11-5 overall.
“We put up a good team effort, but couldn't get the job done at the end,” Pioneer coach Will Biggs said. The game could have gone either way. We get ourselves in position to win these games, but it's not happening now.”
A pair of three-pointers by
Jason Smith gave the Pioneers an 8-6 lead in the opening four minutes of the first half.
The Toros went on an 11-5 run the following six minutes to take a 17-13 lead.
Led by
Quinton Lilley's five points, the Pioneers regained the lead, 23-18, at the 5:46 mark.
Jacari Whitfield nailed a three-pointer with 1:20 left to maintain a Pioneer three-point advantage.
Cal State Dominguez converted a pair of free throws narrowing the Pioneers halftime lead to 26-25.
A tenacious Pioneer defense held the Toros to 8 of 26 attempts from the field in the first half.
The Toros found their shooting touch in the second to take a 42-34 advantage with 14:17 left.
The Pioneers battled back to trail 47-46, with 9:15 remaining in the game.
Adam Watts, who played well in a reserve role, made a pair of free throws to tie the contest 53-53 at the 4:21 mark.
Cal State Dominguez Hills scored four unanswered points in the following minute to grab a 57-53 lead.
The Pioneers came within two points, 59-57, with 1:50 left following a Watts layup.
The Toros converted a pair of free throws in the final minute to secure the victory.
Mark Samuels led the Pioneers in scoring with 19 points. Smith followed with 18 points including five 3-pointers.
Roshun Wynne, the Pioneers leading scorer in CCAA play averaging 15.1 points a game, was held scoreless and fouled out in the second half.
The Pioneers will play at Humboldt State on February 2.
