CHICO, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team dropped their first California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) contest of the season with a 59-45 loss to Chico State on Saturday night, December 8 in Art Acker Gymnasium.
 
With the loss the Pioneers fall to 8-2 on the season with a 4-1 mark in conference action. Cal State East Bay never led in the ballgame as they only scored 15 first half points and got all but one point from their starting five.
 
East Bay was unable to overcome dreadful shooting in the first half to remain undefeated in league action. CSUEB shot a season-low 33.3% (19-for-57) from the field including a 1-for-17 (5.9%) showing from three-point range.
 
Senior Evan Wardlow (Lake View Terrance, Calif.) turned in a solid performance for the Pioneers with a game-high 13 points on 6-for12 shooting from the floor. Wardlow added three rebounds and a steal through 31 minutes as he has now scored in double three in three consecutive games.
 
For just the second time all season Cal State East Bay was outrebounded as they were held to 27 rebounds, their lowest total of the season. The Wildcats collected 35 rebounds as they shot 42% (21-for-50) from the field for the game including 90% from the charity stripe.
 
Sophomore Nai Carlisle (West Lafayette, Ind.) collected 11 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior Ant Navarrete (San Leandro, Calif.) also notched 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting to go along with one rebound.
 
The Pioneers did however outscore the Wildcats in the painted area 28-22 for the ball game. East Bay also forced Chico State into 13 turnovers while scoring 17 points off those mistakes.
 
Senior point guard Juwan Anderson (Oakland, Calif.) added seven points with a team-best five rebounds and one assist across 31 minutes of action.
 
The Pioneers will be off for a week before returning to CCAA play with a road game against San Francisco State on Monday, December 17.