SAN DIEGO – Cal State East Bay men's basketball opened the season in the PacWest/CCAA Conference Challenge on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University. The Pioneers won a tight contest 68-63 over Fresno Pacific University on Friday.
In the first half, the Pioneers started on a 22-14 run capped by a
Kevin Ebiriekwe jumper with 8:34 left in the half. The Sunbirds responded with a 15-7 run, capped by a Harrison Pennisi layup with 54 seconds left in the half, to trim the Pioneers' lead to 29-27. The Pioneers ultimately led 32-29 at halftime.
In the second half, the Pioneers would hold the Sunbirds at arms' length. The Sunbirds eventually tied the game at 40-40 on a Alvar Peltoniemi 3-pointer with 12:52 left. The Pioneers regained the lead 42-40 on a
Tyree Campbell jumper with 12:03 left. CSUEB built its largest lead of the ballgame at 10, at 59-49, on a
Dimitrios Klonaras free throw with 7:02 left. The Sunbirds would come as close as two on two occasions; the second occasion at 65-63 on an Isaac Peralta jumper with 2:18 left. However, three separate free throws by
Payden White, Campbell and Klonaras sealed the win as the Pioneers started the season wit a 68-63 win.
- Grady Lewis had a game high 19 points to lead the Pioneers, going 9-for-17 from the floor, along with one free throw.
- Klonaras had a team-high eight rebounds and shined defensively with two blocks and two steals.
- The Pioneers shot 43.5 percent from the floor, 15.4 percent from the beyond the arc.
- Cal State East Bay outrebounded Fresno Pacific 36-34 on Friday.
Cal State East Bay head coach
Bryan Rooney following Friday's season-opening win:
"Very proud of our group tonight. While it was not always pretty, we showed excellent toughness in some key moments to earn a hard fought victory/"
Cal State East Bay: 1-0
Fresno Pacific: 0-1
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
The Pioneers take on No. 11 Point Loma on Saturday at 7 p.m. from Golden Gymnasium for their second game of the tournament.
