Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team halted a four-game skid with a dramatic comeback victory over Sonoma State, 71-69, in front of a loud Homecoming crowd at Pioneer Gym on Friday night. East Bay (7-10, 4-7 CCAA) erased a nine-point second-half deficit, taking its first lead of the game with just 2:57 to play. The Pioneers improve to 6-2 at home this season with the win.

"Coach Fuscaldo's team competed tremendously from start to finish," said Pioneer head coach Gus Argenal after the game. "It was an absolute battle for 40 minutes. I'm so proud of the way our team found a way to win. This was one of our best defensive efforts as a team."

East Bay held the visiting Seawolves (2-13, 1-10 CCAA) to 39.7 percent shooting from the floor and 21.1 percent from three (4-for-19). The Pioneers weren't particularly hot from outside either, hitting at 29.2 percent from behind the arc (7-for-24), but they managed to shoot 45.5 percent overall thanks to 30 points in the paint and a lot of layups in the second half.

Gabe Kindred continued what has been a stellar offensive season by leading the squad with 23 points. He was 7-for-10 from the field, including 2-of-4 from long distance, and also added four rebounds and four assists. The senior has been the best three-point shooter in the CCAA this season (35-for-70), and he gets to the free throw line better than any player in the conference. With seven more made foul shots tonight -- including five in the final two minutes to help seal the victory -- Kindred has now made 120 in only 17 games. He needs to sink just six more free throws to break the single-season school record.

Mark Samuels also had an efficient scoring night, going 7-for-10 from the floor and finishing with 18 points. The senior went 2-for-4 form three-point range, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out a team-high five assists.

Junior Jacari Whitfield also reached double figures for the Pioneers, notching 14 points to go along with a pair of steals. He got hot from long range early in the game, burying three first-half three-pointers. In fact, Kindred, Samuels, and Whitfield scored the first 39 points of the game for East Bay, spanning nearly 23 minutes of game time.

It took more than three players to complete a victory, however. Playing one of his best games as a Pioneer, particularly in the second half, was Jarred Jourdan. The junior scored seven pioints and tied for the team lead with six rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench, stepping up his game on both ends of the floor with senior Ryan Hebebrand in foul trouble most of the game.

Lack of foul trouble was a welcome occurrence for Freshman Kyle Frakes, who played 28 minutes and turned in an impressive defensive performance. He finished with four points and five rebounds and spend much of the game gaurding Sonoma State's best player. Justin Herold had 21 points and nine boards, but Frakes' rim protection was impactful throughout the game, forcing the Sewolves into a lot of contested shots.

East Bay got solid play overall from its bench. Senior Donavon Jackson notched four rebounds, two points, a steal, and a block in 18 minutes. Fellow senior Kenneth Farr II played a season-high eight minutes, collecting a steal and a fast-break assist, and matching a career high with three boards. Freshman Aaron Cameron gave the Pioneers six quality minutes, tallying a rebound and an assist.

The Pioneers won despite hitting just 56.0 percent of their free throws and grabbing just five offensive rebounds, both season lows. The comeback was fueled by defense, however, particularly on the perimeter where Sonoma State went 0-for-8 in the second half. 

East Bay is back in action on Saturday, Jan 26 with the annual "Battle of the Bay" against San Francisco State (8-6, 6-5 CCAA) to conclude Homecoming Week at CSUEB. This crucial CCAA contest is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off following the women's game. If you can't make it to Pioneer Gym, check out the live video broadcast at pioneerwebtv.com.