Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. – On a night that saw the Pioneer men play one of their best halves of the season, as well as one of their worst, Cal State East Bay lost 58-51 to No. 9 Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday night. Despite nearly erasing a 21-point deficit in the second half, the Pioneers (5-7, 4-4 CCAA) lost at home for the first time in the 2012-13 season. The team managed to finish off its second straight 1-1 weekend as they attempt to keep pace in the tough CCAA.

Scoring was at a premium in the early going (the score was 3-2 at the first media timeout) with both teams struggling to hit shots. Despite starting just 3-for-19 from the field, East Bay was able to keep the game close for most of the first half. However, the Broncos (11-1, 7-1 CCAA) started heating up after the last media of the half and stretched their lead out to double digits. Pomona ended up out-shooting the Pioneers 42 percent to 21 percent in the opening frame and took a 27-13 lead into the break.

It looked like more of the same for the Pioneers coming out of halftime, as Cal Poly began the second half on a 7-0 run. When Mitchel Anderson hit a three to put the Broncos up 21, it looks like East Bay might be cooked. That's when the momentum finally shifted. Coming out of the first media timeout, the Pioneers were able to set up a few open looks for Jason Smith, and he knocked down four triples as part of a 16-2 run that pulled the Pioneers within seven.

The Pioneers were able to turn up the intensity on defense and force enough turnovers to overcome their poor shooting early. After Jacari Whitfield drilled a long three from the top of the key, East Bay trailed by just one point with less than three minutes to play. Unfortunately, they never got any closer. The teams traded baskets for the last few minutes and the Pioneers had a couple chances to tie it, but Pomona hit their free throws and hung on for the seven-point win.

The Pioneers made seven three-pointers in the second half after hitting just one in the first. Although East Bay closed the gap, the Broncos ended up out-shooting them 38.5 percent to 31.1 percent for the game. The Pioneers crashed the glass hard late in the game and were able to out-rebound their opponents 41 to 36, including 19 offensive boards.

Smith led the Pioneers with 12 points and grabbed six rebounds (four of them offensive). Gabe Kindred, playing with a ton of energy that helped spur the comeback, filled up the score sheet with 11 points and posted team-highs with seven rebounds and six assists.

For the second straight night, Ota Okungbowa turned in an inspired effort, racking up the hustle stats. The redshirt freshman scored six points, grabbed six rebounds, and had four steals to lead the team. Whitfield finished with six points, as well, and added three assists. Vincent Capellino also scored six, and the senior pulled in four rebounds, all on the offensive end. Ryan Hebebrand rounded out a quartet of six-point scorers for the Pioneers in this game, and he also finished with three boards.

For the Broncos, Anderson led all players with 16 points and 11 rebounds. DeRonn Scott and Terrence Drisdom also reached double figures, notching 13 and 12 points, respectively. With the win, Pomona retains their top spot in the conference standings, although the majority of the schedule remains.

East Bay has no travel plans on the immediate horizon, as the team welcomes a pair of Southern California opponents into Pioneer Gym next weekend. Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego will visit Hayward on Friday and Saturday, with both games set to tip-off at 7:30 p.m.