LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team fell on Saturday night to UC San Diego by a final score of 84-45 at RIMAC Arena.
The Pioneers (12-11, 5-10 CCAA) shot just 32.7 percent from the field and went 4-for-17 from three-point range against a Triton squad that ranks fifth in the nation in scoring defense. CSUEB has now failed to reach 50 points in three games this season, and two of them were against the Tritons (17-5, 12-3 CCAA), who moved into first place in the conference standings with the win.
UCSD complemented their stifling defense with a lights-out shooting performance. The Tritons shot 68 percent in the first half, finished at 55.8 percent for the game, and knocked down 12 of 27 attempts from three-point range.
The Pioneers actually led at the first media timeout of the first half, having jumped out to a 10-7 advantage behind two
Paramvir Singh three-pointers. But the Tritons responded with 10 straight points to key a 24-4 run. By the time the first half buzzer sounded, the home team led 50-25.
Both teams had a chance to dip into their benches as UCSD slowly stretched out its advantage in the second half. Every single active player on the East Bay roster played at least 10 minutes, and only Singh and
Druce Asah played more than 20.
Singh was the only CSUEB player to finish in double figures, scoring 12 points on 4-for-5 from the field.
Micah Dunhour added seven points, while
Kyle Frakes scored five and pulled in a team-high six rebounds.
The Pioneers have now lost four straight games and will return to Hayward to cap off Homecoming weekend with a pair of tough CCAA games, starting Friday evening against Sonoma State and the top-ranked scoring defense in the nation.
CSUEB is still in the thick of the CCAA postseason race with five regular season games remaining, looking to qualify for their first ever CCAA Tournament. Whether they do or not, these Pioneers have already had an historic season, becoming the winningest Cal State East Bay squad since 2008-09, and notching the most victories as a Division II program since 1997-98.
