HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team enters the first week of December with a tough slate of games on the schedule. On Wednesday, Dec. 3, the Pioneers (2-2) travel to Stockton for a midweek matchup against Division I Pacific. The squad then has just one day off before opening California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play this weekend with games against a pair of strong Southern California squads.
On Friday night, Dec. 5, East Bay plays just its second home game of the season against Cal Poly Pomona (3-2). The following night, the Pioneers welcome in UC San Diego (3-1). Both contests are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tip-offs following the women's games and will be broadcast live at www.pioneerwebtv.com.
WEEKLY RECAP
The CSUEB men took care of business in their only game of Thanksgiving week, defeating Bristol University 69-64 in their home opener at Pioneer Gym. Four Pioneers scored in double figures, as the team opened up a big lead early in the second half and withstood a late Bristol rally. East Bay out-rebounded its opponents 40 to 27 in the game, and the squad posted its best perfromance this season at the free throw line (22-for-28). SPREADING THE WEALTHThe Pioneers have had contributions from all over their roster during the non-conference schedule. Entering the week,
Ryan Okwudibonye,
Juawnn Springfield,
Nick Grieves, and
Jack Pasquini are all scoring between 10.0 and 12.0 points per game, and each player is shooting over 41 percent from the field.
Okwudibonye is currently among the top-10 players in the CCAA with a .588 field goal percentage. Backcourt partners Springfield and
Jacari Whitfield are tied for eighth in the conference with 16 assists each.
GREAT ON THE GLASSPasquini has made a big impression in his first season donning the red and black. He has grabbed 11 rebounds in each of the last two games, bringing his average up to 9.5 per game, which ranks second among all CCAA players.
CLIMBING THE RANKSWhitfield broke a school record two weeks ago, becoming CSUEB's all-time leader in career three-pointers. He followed that up with a 2-for-2 performance from long distance against Bristol. The senior knocked down the biggest shot of the game for East Bay with just over a minute left, draining a long three from the left wing to give the Pioneers a 68-62 lead.
Whitfield also enters the week with 247 career assists, which ranks seventh in program history. He needs just 24 more to move into sixth place past Mike Wood, who is also the school's all-time leading scorer.
IT ALL EVENS OUTThrough four games, the Pioneers have been dead even with their collective opponents, both going 101-for-233 from the field (43.3 percent). East Bay's opponents are out-rebounding them slightly (151 to 147), but the Pioneers have a miniscule edge in total points (291 scored, 290 allowed).
TRACKING THE TIGERSPacific is 4-3 so far this season, including a 2-1 showing at the Great Alaska Shootout last week. The Tigers opened the season with an 83-62 exhibition win over CCAA squad Sonoma State. Offensively, they're led by guards T.J. Wallace (15.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Dulani Robinson (10.0 ppg, 3.6 apg) and forward Eric Thompson (9.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg). The Tigers have four international players on their roster, including Danish 7-footer Sami Eleraky. Pacific holds a 14-2 advantage over the Pioneers in the all-time series, but the teams have not met in the regular season since 1987.
PREPPING FOR POMONAThe Broncos were ranked in the top-10 nationally in the preseason, but they suffered narrow losses to UCSD and Point Loma each of the last two Saturdays. CPP is shooting 49.1 percent from the field as a team with four players averaging in double figures. Senior Terrence Drisdom (17.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, .556 FG%) and junior Jordan Faison (12.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg) are among the top players in the CCAA. East Bay is 1-7 against the Broncos since joining the conference in 2010.
SCOUTING UC SAN DIEGOAfter starting conference play with a huge victory over CPP, the Tritons split last weekend, losing to Colorado Mines on the road, but defeating Fort Lewis. The Tritons are the top three-point shooting team in the league, led by Drew Dyer (14.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 61.9 3FG%) and Hunter Walker (11.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg). They have won five of their eight meetings with the Pioneers as members of the CCAA.
