HAYWARD, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team picked up an, 82-72 victory over Pacific Union in non-conference action on Tuesday night, December 19 in Pioneer Gymnasium to close out their 2017 home season.
 
It was the first home win of the season for East Bay as they improved to 6-6 on the season and 4-2 in non-California Collegiate Athletic Association games.
 
East Bay shot a season-high 56.1 (32-for-57) from the field for the game. It was just the second time all season that Easy Bay finished over 50% shooting as a team for a game. East completed the game with their third consecutive contest shooting over 40% going from beyond the arc 7-for-17 (41.2%) on the evening.
 
East Bay controlled the game the game from the opening tip although Pacific Union would remain within shouting distance down to the closing seconds on the game. East Bay never trailed by more than one point and took their largest lead of 14 points midway through the second half of action.
 
Senior guard Drew Bender (Phoenix, Ariz.) led East Bay with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field with three rebounds, a game-high three steals and two assists. Bender went a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line in 26 minutes of action.
 
Bender has scored in double figures in six of the last seven contests.
 
Sophomore Druce Asah (Tracy, Calif.) compiled 16 points while knocking down a team-best three three-pointer to go along with seven rebounds, an assist and a steal in 22 minutes on the court. Asah has now made at three or more three-pointer field goals in three consecutive outings.
 
Junior guard Juwan Anderson (Oakland, Calif.) led East Bay with seven assists to go with three points, three rebounds and two steals on a game high 29 minutes on the floor. Anderson has dished out five or more assists in three straight games and six total contest this season.
 
Pacific Union was able to score 22 points off 20 forced turnovers from East Bay. But it was East Bay that dominated the painted area and bench production. East Bay outscored Pacific Union 48-22 in paint points while also outrebounding Pacific Union 41-27. The East Bay reserves also had a strong showing with 44 points to just 28 points from the Pacific Union bench unit.
 
East Bay defense was in full effect again tonight holding Pacific Union to just 37.3% (22-for-59) shooting from the field, the third lowest so far on the season. Pacific Union did however find range from beyond the three-point arc going 10-for-18 (55.6%) for the game.
 
Freshman forward Wyatt Maker (Salinas, Calif.) turned in an outstand performance registering career high marks in points, rebounds and minutes played. Maker grabbed a game best 10 rebounds and narrowly missed a double double after putting in nine points on 4-for-5 shooting for the game in 10 minutes.
 
Freshman Jordan Balser (Aubrun, Calif.) also notched nine points on 4-for-5 shooting from the floor with three assists and two rebounds on 26 minutes off the bench. Freshman Brycen Wight (Oxnard, Calif.) put in a career best eight points on 2-for-4 shooting from three-point range and two rebounds in a reserve role for East Bay.
 
Rae Hubbard led Pacific Union with a game high 19 points and two rebounds. Chris Camper added 16 points and four assists.
 
Cal State East Bay will be off for a week to enjoy the Christmas holiday before returning to action with a CCAA road trip with games against Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona.