SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball fell just short in their 72-66 exhibition loss to Division I Cal Poly on Thursday night, November 2 in Motts Athletics Center.
 
Sophomore guard Druce Asah was on fire in East Bay's first game action against outside competition for the the 2017-18 season. Asah erupted for a game-high 29 points on seven for nine shooting from three-point range and 11-for-16 from the field for the game. He added three rebounds in 31 minutes of action.
 
The Pioneers jumped out to an early 8-2 lead before a late run by Cal Poly gave the Mustangs a 32-31 lead at halftime. East Bay hot beyond the arc in the first half connecting on seven of their ten attempts.
 
Cal State East Bay kept Cal Poly in reach throughout the second half tying and even game four times before the Mustangs broke a 46-46 tie with an 8-0 run. Senior forward Jelani Mitchell was the only other Pioneer to score in double figure with 10 points in 20 minutes off the bench on 3-for-4 shooting from the floor.
 
The Mustangs narrowly edge out the Pioneers on the battle for boards with a 39-37 rebounding advantage. Both teams made 38 percent of their floor shots, but Cal Poly connected on 29 of 40 free throws while East Bay went to the line just 14 times, with eight makes. East Bay finished with 14 assists as a team to just 10 from Cal Poly.
 
Senior center Kyle Frakes paced the Pioneers with eight rebounds to go with seven points, two assists and a steal on 3-for-6 shooting in 21 minutes on the court. Junior point guard Juwan Anderson dished out a game-high seven assists. Anderson compiled five points and collected four rebounds in 30 minutes.
 
Sophomore Jordan Balser added five points, a block and a steal while freshman Wyatt Maker chipped in four points in 2-for-4 accuracy in only 10 minutes.
 
Cal State East Bay will open the 2017-18 regular season with the 2017 Pioneer Challenge with games against Montana Billings (Nov. 10) and Seattle Pacific (Nov. 11).