HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State men's basketball team opened its 2017 Homecoming weekend tilt with a 55-64 loss to Sonoma State Friday night, January 10 in Pioneer Gymnasium.
 
The loss, which is the fifth straight, drops the Pioneers to 12-12 on the season and 5-11 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play.
 
Sonoma State, who boasts the nations top-ranked defense, lived up to the bill as the held East Bay to 28.6 percent shooting from the field and 25.9 percent accuracy from beyond the arc. Despite the horrid shooting percentages, the Pioneers held a 34-29 lead at halftime.
 
But it was the Seawolves suffocating second half defense that ended up dictating the game as the Pioneers shot 21.7 percent from the floor and 10.0 percent from three-point range after the intermission, both season lows. Sonoma State would go on to outscore the East Bay 35-21 in the second half of action.
 
It would the Pioneers efficiency from the charity stripe that helped balanced them offensive shooting woes. East Bay shot a season best 87.0 percent from the foul line going 20-for-23 for the evening.
 
The game featured eight lead changes and was ties five times, as three Pioneers compiled double figures. Senior guard Jalen Richard paced the Pioneers with 14 points, four rebounds and three assists. Richard shot 6-for-8 from the free throw line in 33 minutes of game action.
 
Sonoma State slightly controlled the paint over East Bay as they outrebounded the Pioneers 33-31 and outscored CSUEB 28-12 in paint points. East Bay outscored the Sonoma State 11-10 in second chance points, as senior forward Micah Dunhour tallied 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Dunhour added two assists and two blocks while knocking down six of his seven foul shots on a team best 38 minutes on the floor.
 
The Pioneer bench was only outscored by one, 24-23 as sophomore point guard Juwan Anderson led the Pioneer second line with 10 points and a game high four assists. Anderson grabbed three rebounds in 37 minutes.
 
Drew Bender added six points and two rebounds in a reserve role, while Pierre Carter chipped in five points and grabbed four rebounds. The two went a combined 3-for-3 from the foul line.
 
Armani Nicolis led the Seawolves with 18 points and nine rebounds. Luke Cochran added 13 points and five rebounds for Sonoma State.
 
The Pioneers will look to bounce back during Homecoming 2017 when the host the visiting San Francisco State Gators on Saturday night, January 11. Tip off will be at 7:30 p.m. in Pioneer Gymnasium.