HAYWARD, Calif. — The Cal State East Bay men's basketball team found itself in a tight game late in the second half, but couldn't pull it out down the stretch in a narrow home defeat to Humboldt State, 67-63, Thursday night at Pioneer Gym.

Junior guard Zack Perlstein scored a game-high 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting to go along with six rebounds, while senior forward Zafir Williams finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Sophomore guard Kaito Williams added eight points and junior forward Tone Patton scored seven points.

CSUEB trailed by nine at halftime, but rallied back behind a 13-0 run capped off by a Kaito Williams' 3-pointer to take a 51-47 lead with 9:17 left to play. 

With the Pioneers trailing late, Perlstein's jumper pulled East Bay within two, 65-63, with 56 seconds remaining. Zafir Williams' open look at a 3-pointer from the corner rimmed out with three seconds remaining, as Humboldt State (9-6, 3-6 CCAA) escaped with the win.

Cal State East Bay (3-11, 1-7) returns to action at home on Saturday, Jan. 22, as the Pioneers play host to Sonoma State beginning at 3 p.m.