Box Score SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team was edged out in the waning seconds of Saturday night's game, ultimately losing on the road to Cal State Monterey Bay 89-83. The loss evens up the Pioneers' overall record at 5-5, evens up their CCAA record at 2-2, and even up their season series with the Otters (3-4, 1-3 CCAA) at a game apiece. 

"Monterey Bay played a more complete game than we did, and the credit goes to them," said head coach Gus Argenal. "We had chances to make game-winning stops and rebounds and just came up short."

It was an extremely tight game -- much more so than East Bay's 76-61 victory over CSUMB last Satirday in Hayward. Neither team managed to make a run early until the Otters stretched out a 10-point lead with four minutes to go in the half. However, the Pioneers erased that deficit thanks to a couple of big jumpers by Jacari Whitfield and a huge bucket by Kyle Frakes, and headed into halftime tied 41-41.

The second half was a tough grind for East Bay. They were in the game the entire time, but trailed most of the frame. The Otters were red hot -- ultimately shooting 60.0 percent from the field for the game -- and didn't allow the Pioneers to make a significant scoring run. 

East Bay was nonetheless able to pull even at 76-76 with 1:18 left following a layup by Gabe Kindred. The Pioneers couldn't get pver the hump, however. The Otters came right back down and got a basket, and then Whitfield missed a three-pointer, the Pioneers fouled on the rebound, and after the free throws they were down four with 45 seconds left. 

East Bay shot 50.9 percent on field goals as a team, their second-highest mark of the season. They were especially hot from long distance, knocking down 12-of-22 three-pointers (.545). However, the Pioneers hit just 55 percent of their free throws (11-for-20), which hurt in a close game. They did manage to out-rebound Monterey Bay, 31 to 25, and got an impressive 11 offensive boards. 

Kindred led the team with 19 points on 6-for-13 shooting and also grabbed five rebounds. He was just 5-for-9 from the line, however, after recently breaking a streak of 32 consecutive made free throws. 

Ryan Hebebrand had a team-high 12 rebounds for the second straight game and scored 13 points to notch his first double-double of the year. The senior was 6-for-8 from the field in 29 minutes before fouling out, and half of his dozen rebounds were on the offensive end.

Whitifeld finished with 16 points, knocking down 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Mark Samuels was the fourth Pioneer to reach double figures; the senior posted 12 points (5-9 FG), four boards, and three assists.

Frakes made the first start of his collegiate career and scored seven points in a season-high 22 minutes before fouling out. He was 2-for-4 from the floor and added three rebounds.

Donavon Jackson had six points and a team-high four assists in 20 minutes off the bench. Nick Grieves added six points as well, going 2-for-5 from long range. Jarred Jourdan notched four points and four rebounds in 17 minutes. 

"It is extremely hard to win on the road, especially in the CCAA," added Argenal. "That said, I love my team and the direction we are moving as we head into the new year."

The Pioneers have next weekend off for the holidays and will resume conference play back at home on Jan. 3 against defending CCAA champion Cal Poly Pomona. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game.