Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team was edged out by visiting Cal State L.A. on Saturday night in a tight game, 78-74. It's the first loss at home for the Pioneers (3-4, 1-1 CCAA) in the Gus Argenal era. Both teams led by as many as seven, but the score was tied with three minutes to go before the Golden Eagles (5-1, 3-0 CCAA) made a few key baskets and enough free throws to secure the road win.

East Bay was nearly perfect from the free throw line on the night, making 95.7 percent of their foul shots (22-for-23). Senior Gabe Kindred led the way with a 10-for-10 performance at the line. He paced the Pioneers with 22 points and dished out three assists.

"Each team had their chances on both ends of the floor," said Argenal after the game. "Cal State L.A. did a great job tonight, Coach Thompson's tean made the plays down the stretch to win the game."

"It is a battle every night in the CCAA," he added. "I'm excited about the improvements we're making as a program.

Senior Donavon Jackson had a big night off the bench for East Bay, going 3-for-4 from three-point range and 5-for-5 from the charity stripe to finish with 16 points. 

Junior Nick Grieves notched 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting. He and teammate Ryan Hebebrand led the Pioneers with eight rebounds each. Mark Samuels also reached double figures, finishing with 11 points, three assists, and a team-high four steals. 

East Bay shot 39.3 percent as a team (compared to 44.6 percent from CSULA). It was the second time this season the Pioneers have failed to reach 40 percent. They knocked down 8-of-24 three pointers, while holding the Golden Eagles to 1-for-9 from long distance, but it wasnt enough to overcome a significant size advantage for Cal State L.A.

Jacari Whitfield added five points and two asissts, Darrick McIntosh grabbed three boards, and Kyle Frakes came off the bench to score two points and pull in four rebounds.

The Pioneers led 23-16 with just over six minutes to go in the first half and looked to be building momentum, but the Golden Eagles responded with a 10-0 run to take a three-point lead. In the second half, East Bay had a tough time slowing down James Tilllman, who led all players with 35 points, shooting 14-for-28 from the floor.

The Pioneers are back in action next weekend when they host rival Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. following the women's game.