SEASIDE, Calif.,-- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team picked up its second California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) road victory of the season after defeating Cal State Monterey Bay, 76-54 Saturday night in the Kelp Bed.
 
The Pioneers move to 2-3 in conference play and 4-5 overall on the season after the forcing the Otters to shoot just 34% (18-for-53) from the field, a season-best mark for the CSUEB defense.
 
East Bay controlled the game from the opening tip as they they never trailed after the 15:13 mark in the opening half as they took a 39-21 lead into the intermission. Senior guard Drew Bender (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the Pioneers with 15 points and four assists in 29 minutes of action. He added five rebounds and knocked down all five of his foul shots. Bender has now scored in double figures in four consecutive contests.
 
The Pioneers were relentless inside the painted area as they outscored the Otters 30-26 while also outrebounding them 44-37 for the game. Head coach Bryan Rooney received a 33-15 advantage from his reserves as Jelani Mitchell (Pasadena, Calif.) and Jordan Balser (Auburn, Calif.) each compiled nine points apiece. Mitchell was a force on the defensive with a team-high three steals with six of his eight rebounds ending a CSUMB possession. Balser connected of two of his three attempts from three-point land to go along with three rebounds.
 
East Bay's first half dominance was capped off by 6-for-13 (46.1%) three-point barrage. The Pioneers held Monterey Bay to just three second chance points. Junior guard Juwan Anderson registered 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Anderson went a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.
 
The Pioneers shot a team season-high 87.5% from the foul line. Deiondre Byrd (Portland, Ore.) also went 2-for-2 from the free throw line on his way to eight points, two rebounds and an assist. Senior Kyle Frakes grabbed a team-best eight rebounds and scored four points.
 
East Bay forced Monterey Bay into 20 turnovers that resulted in 11 points for the Pioneers. Patrick Marr (Clayton, Calif.) and Keshawn Bruner (Sacramento, Calif.) also give good contribution off the bench for East Bay. Marr chipped in seven points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal. Bruner provided six points, three rebounds and an assists in 22 minutes of play.
 
The Pioneers will be off for a week before returning on the road for a non-conference bout against Western Washington in Bellingham, Wash. On Dec. 12 at 7:00 p.m.