Box Score SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- In its final tune-up before the start of the 2013-14 regular season, the Cal State East Bay men's basketball team dropped an 88-65 decision at Division I UC Santa Barbara on Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers shot 42.4 percent as a team in the first half and trailed by just five at halftime before the Gauchos opened the second half on a 15-0 run.

"I was extremely pleased with our defensive effort in the first half, but that mindset has to be consistent for 40 minutes," said head coach Gus Argenal. "UCSB is an outstanding program, and they hurt us on the offensive boards tonight. We learned a lot about our team and what areas need improving as we move towards Friday's opener."

Senior Gabe Kindred finished with a team-high 16 points on 7-for-16 shooting. He also had a pair of steals and grabbed six rebounds, tied for the team lead. Three other Pioneers reached double figures in scoring. Junior Jacari Whitfield was 5-for-5 from the free throw line, notching 12 points. Senior Jerramy King and junior Nick Grieves, both newcomers, totaled 10 points each.

Senior Ryan Hebebrand posted five points and six boards, while fellow senior Donavon Jackson grabbed five rebounds in just nine minutes of play. Senior Mark Samuels, who missed 2012-13 with an injury but enters the season as CSUEB's fifth-leading scorer all-time, struggled offensively, going 0-for-10 from the field with two points. However, he did pace the squad with three assists and three steals. 

The Gauchos topped the Pioneers in field goal percentage for the game, 46.2 to 38.4 percent. The home team was also able to capitalize on its size advantage, besting East Bay in rebounding (54 to 34) and free throw attempts (35 to 16). Four of the five UCSB starters reached double figures, led by Michael Bryson (22 pts, 9 reb) and Alan Williams (17 pts, 11 reb).

The Gauchos looked like they were starting to pull away early in the first half as they got out to a 19-13 lead. But the Pioneers quickly answered with five straight points and were able to keep the score tight the rest of the half. Their pressure defense had some success frustrating the Gauchos, who shot 42.9 percent from the floor, nearly identical to the Pioneers. Whitfield and King each scored seven of their points in the opening frame, and the team went into the break with UCSB leading 39-34.

Santa Barbara came out hot in the second half and extended their lead to 21 points before the Pioneers scored their first bucket. Kindred had the next eight points for East Bay as they attempted to claw back in it, but the visitors wouldn't get closer than 17 points after the 15:00 mark.

The Pioneers kick off the regular season in less than a week. The team is on the road for its first four games, starting with a showdown against Academy of Art on Friday, Nov. 8 at 5:30 p.m.