Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team fell at home for the second straight game Friday night, losing 71-59 to Cal State San Bernardino (9-3, 7-2 CCAA). The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Coyotes. The two teams played even for the first twenty minutes, but the visitors made a surge early in the second half and held on for the win. The loss puts the pressure on East Bay (5-8, 4-5 CCAA) to win tomorrow, as they aim to earn their third straight weekend split.

The game was tight throughout most of the first half, with the Pioneers finding some success shooting from the outside. They were 5-for-10 on threes in the first half and were able to withstand the Coyotes' first mini-run about 10 minutes in. Despite being out-shot 45.5 percent to 37.5 percent by Cal State San Bernardino, the Pioneers went into halftime deadlocked at 30-30.

The Pioneers played well in the second half, but their opponents started to heat up from the floor, shooting 56.5 percent. Meanwhile, East Bay stopped getting the outside shots to fall, making just 2-of-11 in the half. Leading 38-37 with 15 minutes to play, the Coyotes went on an 8-0 run, their only substantial one of the game. But ultimately it was enough to secure the win, as the Pioneers couldn't narrow the gap and had no answer for Kwame Alexander, who led all players with 26 points and 13 rebounds.

Jacari Whitfield and Jason Smith were the focal points of the East Bay offense on this night, but the pair combined to go just 5-for-21 from the field. Despite this, Whitfield led the Pioneers with 11 points and six assists, while Smith added eight points.

Jurrell Turner needed only four field goal attempts to reach 10 points, and he also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Ryan Hebebrand rounded out of the trio of Pioneers in double figures with 10 points and four boards. Gabe Kindred notched five points, and Donavon Jackson posted four points and three rebounds in 26 minutes of action off the bench.

Alexander was the only player to top the 20-point mark, but Cal State San Bernardino had a pair of other scorers reach double figures. Brian Goins scored 12 points and Joshua Gouch added 10. The Coyotes' won in part thanks to solid free throw shooting down the stretch, as they posted a mark of 80.0 percent for the game (24-for-30).

East Bay plays its last of four consecutive CCAA home contests tomorrow night when the Tritons of UC San Diego roll into Pioneer Gym. The team will attempt to get back to the .500 mark in conference on Dads and Daughters night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game.