HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team continues its non-conference schedule this Saturday evening with a 5 p.m. contest at Menlo College. The Pioneers enter the game with a 1-1 record after splitting their opening weekend at the Penquin Preseason Conference Challenge.
WEEKLY RECAPEast Bay won the season opener last Friday over Montana State Billings. The final score was 86-80, but the Pioneers held a larger lead for most of the contest. The team had a tremendous shooting night, hitting at 51.6 percent from the field and 54.5 percent on three-pointers. They also out-rebounded the Yellow Jackets, 38 to 34. Senior
Nick Grieves scored 19 points to lead a group of five Pioneers in double figures. Newcomers
Juawnn Springfield (15 points, five assists),
Ryan Okwudibonye (13 points),
Marcus Norman (12 points), and
Jack Pasquini (10 points, eight rebounds) all impressed in their Pioneer debuts.
The team's hot hand went away the following night against Dominican, as they shot just 34 percent from the floor, 27 percent from long distance, and 58 percent from the foul line against the Penuins. The Pioneers kept it close despite getting out-rebounded 50 to 25, but they ultimately fell 71-62 to even their record. Grieves scored 16 points, Pasquini once again grabbed eight boards, and freshman
Patrick Marr had a bit of a coming-out party with 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Jacari Whitfield dished out six assists to pace the squad.
PIONEER POINTSThrough two games, Grieves is averaging 17.5 points, which is sixth-highest in the California Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA). He has knocked down six of his 11 three-point attempts so far.
Marr is second on the team at 11.0 points per game to go along with a .583 field goal percentage. Pasquini is second among CCAA players with 8.0 rebounds per game in the first week.
The Pioneers are shooting 42.3 percent as a team so far. They're averaging 74.0 points and have committed just 13 total turnovers.
OUTLOOK ON THE OAKSMenlo is still in search of its first victory of the season through five games. They're shooting 37.9 percent from the floor as a team, and they're being outscored by their opponents by an average of 16.6 points per game. Freshman Mikey Eggleton leads the Oaks with 14.2 points and 2.0 assists per game. He's shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 42.9 percent on triples. The Pioneers and Oaks met last season with CSUEB picking up a 75-61 win at Pioneer Gymnasium.
