2016 Pioneer Challenge
 
SONOMA STATE (0-0) vs. WESTERN WASHINGTON (0-0)
Friday, Nov. 11 •5:30 p.m.
 
Hayward, Calif –Pioneer Gymnasium

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CAL STATE EAST BAY (0-0) vs. NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR (0-0)
Friday, Nov. 11 •7:30 p.m.

Hayward, Calif – Pioneer Gymnasium
 
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SONOMA STATE (0-0) vs. NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR (0-0)
Saturday, Nov. 12 •5:30 p.m.
 
Hayward, Calif – Pioneer Gymnasium

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CAL STATE EAST BAY (0-0) vs. WESTERN WASHINGTON (0-0)
Saturday, Nov. 12 •7:30 p.m.

Hayward, Calif – Pioneer Gymnasium
 
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HAYWARD, Calif- The Cal State East Bay will open up the 2016-17 regular season by hosting the 2016 Pioneer Challenge this upcoming Veteran's Day Weekend. The Pioneers will face Notre Dame De Namur on Friday, November 10 and square off against Western Washington on Saturday, November 11. Both East Bay games will begin at 7:30 p.m.
 
The other three participating schools in the Pioneer Challenge will be Sonoma State, also of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), Western Washington and Notre Dame De Namur.
 
WEEK IN REVIEW
East Bay got their face taste of action of the 2016-17 season with an exhibition matchup against San Jose State on November 6. Although the Pioneers fell 96-80, they had a great showing against a Division I opponent even outscoring the Spartans 49-45 in the second half.
 
CSUEB had three players score 20 points apiece to lead the Pioneers charge. Micah Dunhour, Druce Asah and Drew Bender all scored 20 points each.
 
Dunhour shot 8-for-16 from the field, including 2-for-4 from three-point range. He also tied for the team lead with five rebounds, dished out two assists, and connected on both free throws in 27 minutes of game action.
 
Asah went 7-for-16 from the floor and 4-for-7 from beyond the arc. The Tracy native matched Dunhour with five rebounds and finished with one steal in 26 minutes on the court.
 
Bender led the Pioneer bench by going 7-for-13 while knocking down a team-best five shots from long distance. Bender ended with two assists, a rebound and a steal on a team high 29 minutes.
 
Sophomore newcomer Juwan Anderson led CSUEB with three assists while adding four points, a steal and a rebound in 25 minutes. Senior Jalen Richard, the team's leading scorer in 2015-16, struggled from long distance, but still tallied seven points, three rebounds and a team-leading two steals.
 
The Pioneers shot 40.6 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from three-point land during the contest.
 
PIONEER POINTS
The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team has been picked to finish in 13th place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) for 2016-17 according to a preseason poll of the conference's 13 head coaches.
 
East Bay finished the 2015-16 season in 11th place with a 5-15 record in league play and a 9-18 mark overall despite a standout season from junior All-CCAA honoree Jalen Richard.
 
This season, fourth-year head coach Gus Argenal's squad is stacked with more size and significantly more depth. Seniors Jalen Richard, Micah Dunhour, Pierre Carter, Tre Mauldin, Paramvir Singh, Lamine Mbodj and Jacob Hohl will provide leadership to complement Kyle Frakes, Drew Bender, Jelani Mitchell and Druce Asah, who all are expected to contribute after redshirting in 2014-15. And the Pioneers have a talented crop of newcomers and returners led by guards Juwan Anderson and Jordan Balser as well as freshman forward Ja-Mont Wilson.
 
SCOUTING NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR
Notre dame De Namur begin their regular season with two exhibition wins under their belt. The Argonauts defeated UC Merced 82-74 and Miramar College of San Diego 81-65. Lance Page is leading the Argonauts with 15.5 points and five rebounds through two exhibition games. Tre'shawn King-Dunbar is adding nine points and a team best 8.5 assists. Notre Dame De Namur finished the 2016-16 season with 3-24 overall and 2-18 in conference play.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN WASHINGTON
Western Washington will begin the 2016-17 regular season with a 1-1 record during the exhibition season. The Vikings defeated Capilano College 110-57 and fell to Washington 109-103. Jeffery Parker is pacing the Viking with 27 points and five rebounds through two exhibition games. Trey Drechsel is putting in 18.5 points, eight rebounds, five steals and four assists. Taylor Stafford is tallying 21.5 points with 4.5 assists and steals for Western Washington. The Vikings completed the 2015-16 season 16-15 overall and 9-11 in conference action.
 
VETERAN'S DAY
As part of the ongoing Veterans Appreciation Week, Cal State East Bay Department of Athletics will honor current and former military members during the men's basketball team's season-opening contest on Friday, Nov. 11, against Notre Dame De Namur in Pioneer Gym.
 
Individuals with a valid military ID will receive free admission. The game, which is held on Veterans Day, is slated to tip-off at 7:30 p.m.