CHICO, Calif – The Cal State East Bay Pioneers racked up its fifth consecutive win with a 78-71 victory over Academy of Art University on Saturday night, November 26 to complete the Mac Martin Invitational hosted by Chico State University.
 
The Pioneers improved to 6-1 on the season, the best start to the season since joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in 2009-10, and finished the Mac Martin Invitational at 2-0.
 
East Bay snapped a two game losing streak to ART U with the win.
 
CSUEB finished the game with three double figure scorers.
 
Freshman guard Druce Asah led the Pioneers with 22 points on a career best seven made three-pointers. Asah added one rebound in 31 minutes of action while going 1-for-2 from the foul line. It was his fourth double digit scoring game of the season.
 
Senior guard Jalen Richard put in a season high 18 points on 6-for-14 shooting. Richard added two assists, two rebounds and two steals for East Bay. Richard has back-to-back double figure scoring outputs.
 
Senior forward Micah Dunhour finished the game with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal on 6-for-13 shooting from the floor. Dunhour led the Pioneers with two blocks on 38 minutes of game action. He has six double digits scoring efforts, including five straight for CSUEB.
 
Junior center Kyle Frakes grabbed a team high nine rebounds, including four offensive rebounds to give the Pioneers a second shot at the basket. Frakes chipped in seven points and a block in 20 minutes on the floor.
 
Drew Bender dished out a career best seven assists in his first start for East Bay. Bender added five points and a rebound while tying a season high 35 minutes on the court. Bender went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe.
 
Pierre Carter led the Pioneer bench with eight points, three assists and three rebounds.
 
Lamine Mbodj compiled four points and three rebounds on a perfect 2-for-2 from the field.
 
East Bay was out-rebounded in the contest 32-31 by the Urban Knights, but the Pioneers finished the game shooting 50 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from long distance while holding ART U to 11.1 percent accuracy from three-point range.
 
CSUEB shot an impressive 58.3 percent from the floor in the firs half as they would go on to outscore the Urban Knights 39-26 in the first half.
 
Fourth year head coach Gus Argenal was excited with his team's competitiveness as they prepare for CCAA action.
 
"I'm really excited about the way the guys stuck together and competed against a competitive, tough and well coached team," Argenal said. "Now we have to prepare for the start of CCAA play and continue to improve our defense and rebounding."
 
Uchenna Okeneme paced the Urban Knights with 18 points and a rebound. Luka Radovic added 15 points and six rebounds for ART U.

Micah Dunhour, Jalen Richard and Druce Asah earned Mac Martin Invitational All-Tournament team honors. 
 
East Bay will begin CCAA play when they travel to faceoff against Bay Area rival Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday, December 2. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Kelp Bed.