Box ScoreBERKELEY, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team opened the 2014-15 season on Friday night with an exhibition loss at Division I California. The Pioneers fell by a final score of 94-50 in front of a large crowd on Halloween at Haas Pavilion.
"I was impressed with Coach Martin's team," said head coach
Gus Argenal. "They compete, and you can tell they're going to be really physical. We started going one-on-one too much when we needed to move the ball and get the ball inside, and then we got a little frustrated and started forcing shots."
Cal's physical advantage was evident from the first tip, and the Pioneers struggled to create scoring opportunites against the size and length of the Bear defenders. Cal opened the game on a 29-6 run before East Bay was finally able to get some shots to fall. In the final seven minutes of the first half, the Pioneers out-scored the Bears 17-16, but the home team nonetheless took a comfortable 45-23 lead into halftime.
The Bears continued to stretch their lead out in the second half thanks to a 62.1 team field goal percentage, but the Pioneers improved offensively as well. After hitting just 17.6 percent of their shots in the first half, they made 27.8 percent in the second. East Bay made just six of its 27 three-pointers for the night, however, which kept them from making late comeback.
Five players scored in double-figures for the Bears, who shot 57.6 percent for the game and out-rebounded the Pioneers, 51 to 38. CSUEB tallied seven steals and committed fewer total turnovers than the Bears, 13 to 11.
"To start the season off against a team like that is great for us," Argenal added. "It allows us to see the level that we need to get to. If we are going to be a good team, we have to improve daily, and this is going to help us for the future."
Senior transfer
Ryan Okwudibonye had a solid night for the Pioneers, leading the way with 12 points and eight rebounds. Fellow senior
Nick Grieves scored 11 points and knocked down 3-of-9 three-pointers.
Newcomer
Jack Pasquini notched five points and seven boards, and junior
Tre Mauldin paced the squad with four assists. Freshman
Patrick Marr impressed in his East Bay debut with seven points and three rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench.
Cal was playing its first contest under head coach Cuonzo Martin, who took over a squad that won 21 games and placed third in the Pac-12 in 2013-14.
The Pioneers are back in action on Sunday, Nov. 2 with an exhibition game against San Jose State at 4 p.m. in the SJSU Event Center.
