HAYWARD, Calif. -- The first four weeks of the 2018-19 season have been among the most impressive stretches for the Cal State East Bay men's basketball team in the decade since the program joined the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Much of that damage has been done at home where the Pioneers have a perfect 5-0 record. But CSUEB will hit the road this weekend to continue the CCAA schedule with a pair of tough contests. 

The Pioneers visit a Sonoma State team Thursday that has gotten off to nearly as hot a start as they have, posting a 5-2 record with a perfect 3-0 mark in conference games. Two night later, they make the drive up north to tangle with perennial power Chico State. 

WEEK IN REVIEW
East Bay defended its home turf last week with a couple satisfying victories and in the process notched the program's first 3-0 CCAA start as members of the conference. They led wire-to-wire in a decisive 13-point win over Cal State Dominguez Hills on Thursday evening, paced by 20 points from sophomore Nai Carlisle. Saturday's matinee against a very talented Cal State LA squad was extremely tight. The Pioneers shot 51 percent from the field and overcame 20 turnovers to squeak out a one-point win.

Carlisle surpassed 20 points in each of the first two conference games before scoring seven against CSULA. Ant Navarrete scored a team-high 16 points against the Golden Eagles, including a reverse layup with a minute left that proved to be the game-winner. Fellow newcomer Evan Wardlow has a big game Saturday as well, tallying 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting. 

Senior Juwan Anderson averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds in the two victories, earning CSUEB Male Athlete of the Week honors. He is East Bay's top scorer thus far at 13.6 ppg, and he leads the conference in assist-turnover ratio.

REGIONALLY RANKED
East Bay's 7-1 start -- their best of the CCAA era -- earned the team a spot in this week's Division II West Region D2SIDA Media Poll. The Pioneers debuted in the top-10 rankings at No. 8. It's just the second time CSUEB has cracked the D2SIDA poll since it was created.

LOCKING DOWN
Among the factors contributing to East Bay's hot start, the clearest area of improvement this season is on the defensive end. The Pioneers have transformed themselves into one of the top defense in the West. They rank No. 4 in the CCAA in rebounding margin and No. 2 in scoring defense, allowing 64.4 points per game. They are the best team in the league at defending three-pointers, ranking No. 7 in the nation holding teams to .260 from long distance. All this has led to an average margin of victory of 9.8 points per game, second-best in the CCAA behind UC San Diego.

FREE POINTS
Another area where the Pioneers have excelled is the free throw line. They're shooting a solid 72.4 percent as a team, but the volume has been the most impressive part. Led by Anderson, Carlisle and Navarrete, the Pioneers have been stellar at drawing fouls. They currently lead the conference and rank in the top-25 in the nation in both free throw attempts and made free throws.

SCOUTING SONOMA
The Seawolves have won four straight, most recently an overtime victory last week at Stanislaus State. They have been solid on both sides of the ball and rank No. 2 in the CCAA in three-point percentage (.354). Armani Nicolis has been SSU's top player, averaging 12.5 points and 5.7 rebounds, shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three.

CHECKING ON CHICO
Chico's non-conference schedule was decimated by recent wildfires. They've only played two games so far -- losses at UC San Diego and SF State -- and will be competing at home for the first time this week. Despite the tough start, the Wildcats boast one of the best rosters in the conference, led by big man Justin Briggs (10.5 ppg, .6.0 rpg, .444 FG).