Box Score SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team opened the 2014-15 season with an 86-80 win over Montana State Billings in the first game of the Penguin Preseason Conference Challenge, hosted by Dominican University at the Conlan Center. 

The Pioneers (1-0) shot 51.6 percent from the field as a team and never trailed in the wire-to-wire victory. Five different players scored in double figures, led by senior Nick Grieves with 19 points.

"Tonight was a really good start to the season for our team and program," said head coach Gus Argenal. "Coach Stevens' team executes and defends at a high level. We got off to a good start on both sides of the ball, and that carried us throughout the game."

CSUEB wasted no time in jumping out to a big lead over the Yellowjackets (0-1). With the score 7-6, East Bay rattled off a 17-3 run heading into the second media timeout of the half. The Pioneers led by as many as 16 in the frame, and they went into halftime with a 42-29 advantage. 

East Bay managed to withstand several attempts by MSUB to rally back in the second half. The Yellowjackets cut their deficit to five points with 10 minutes to play in the game, but the Pioneers answered right back with a 7-0 run to push their lead back to double digits. Billings made one final rally in the closing minutes, but East Bay was able to hit enough free throws to secure the win. 

It was an impressive victory for the Pioneers, who committed just five turnovers, knocked down 6-of-11 attempts from three-point range, and out-rebounded the Yellowjackets, 37 to 33. They managed to hang on despite MSUB shooting 54 percent from the field and attempting 22 more free throws than East Bay.

"We had multiple players step up and make huge plays," added Argenal. "It was a true team effort tonight."

Grieves finished 6-for-11 from the floor and 5-for-5 from the foul line, to go along with four rebounds. Junior Juawnn Springfield had a strong debut for the Pioneers, leading the team with five assists and scoring 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting.

Senior Ryan Okwudibonye was East Bay's go-to scorer in the post for much of the first half, and he finished with 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting before fouling out. Junior Marcus Norman was red-hot from outside, racking up 12 points in just 12 minutes and burying both of his three-point attempts. 

Junior Jack Pasquini fell just two rebounds shy of a double-double in his first game donning the red and black. He went 4-for-7 from the field, totaling 10 points, eight boards, and two blocks. 

Freshman Patrick Marr scored seven points and grabbed three boards, while seniors Jarred Jourdan and Jacari Whitfield added four points apiece. Whitfield did not attempt a three-pointer and remains just two shy of tying the school record.

The Pioneers are back in action tomorrow night to close out the Penguin Preseason Conference Challenge against the hosts, Dominican. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from the Conlan Center.