Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team was defeated by visiting UC San Diego (5-8, 4-6 CCAA) on Saturday night by the score of 69-60. The Pioneers (5-9, 4-6 CCAA) fell behind early and weren't able to overcome the deficit, despite playing an outstanding second half and getting a career night from Gabe Kindred. After winning their first three games of the season at Pioneer Gym, East Bay has now dropped three straight at home.

After Drew Dyer hit a three-pointer to break a 3-3 tie less than two minutes into the game, the Tritons led the entire rest of the way. This would prove to be a theme of the night, as Dyer dominated offensively. UCSD finished the half on a 13-3 run and went into the break with their biggest lead of the game at 35-20.

After shooting just 29.9 percent from the floor in the first half, the Pioneers made some adjustments and started getting the shots to fall, upping their second half mark to 54.2 percent. The problem was, UCSD shot 52.0 percent themselves in the second half, and although the Pioneers did outscore them 40-34, the Tritons didn't allow East Bay to make any late scoring runs. The final margin of nine points was as close as the Pioneers were able to get it.

East Bay ended up shooting 39.2 percent and played a relatively clean game, committing just six turnovers. Kindred led the Pioneers and set career bests with 20 points and eight rebounds (He also scored 20 on Dec. 1 against Sonoma State). He was 6-for-10 from the floor and converted all eight of his free throw attempts.

Nick Marshall posted 15 points and six boards on 6-for-15 shooting. Jacari Whitfield was the third Pioneer in double figures and turned in one of his best offensive games of the season. The sophomore scored 14 points and led the team with four assists, shooting 50.0 percent from the field (5-for-10).

Kindred, Marshall, and Whitfield accounted for 49 of East Bay's 60 points, or 81.7 percent of the team's scoring. Jurrell Turner, Ota Okungbowa, and Spencer Britschgi notched three points apiece, while Ryan Hebebrand scored two to go along with six rebounds. For Britschgi, his three-pointer in the second half marked the first points of his Pioneer career.

Part of the reason East Bay couldn't erase the deficit down the stretch was they couldn't find a way to stop the Tritons' Dyer. He led all scorers with 30 points and added seven rebounds. He was 12-for-15 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 from beyond the arc. Tyler McGrath and MacKenzie McCullough also reached double figures for UCSD, adding 10 points each.

The Pioneers will complete the first half of their CCAA schedule next week with a pair of road contests. The team will look to break its three-game losing streak when they take on Cal State Stanislaus on Friday, followed by Chico State on Saturday.