HAYWARD, Calif. - Cal State East Bay men's basketball wrapped up the Pioneer Conference Challenge on Saturday evening with a matchup against Saint Martin's University inside Pioneer Gymnasium. The Saints won a nail-biter 74-72 over the host Pioneers.
In the first half, the Pioneers opened the game on a 13-7 run capped by a
Chris James layup with 14:05 left in the half. The Saints responded with a 15-3 run, capped by a Marcel Stevens 3-pointer with 10:04 left in the half, to take the lead at 22-16. SMU had its largest lead of the half at eight on two occasions; the second occasion was at 36-28 on a Kyle Greeley jumper with 27 seconds left in the half which both teams took into the halftime break.
In the second half, the Pioneers chipped away at the Saints' lead. The Saints gained their largest lead at nine on three occasions; the third occasion at 65-56 after a pair of Shakeem Alcindor free throws with 4:56 left. The Pioneers answered with a 16-7 run, capped by a
Tyree Campbell layup with 32 seconds left, to tie the game at 72-72. With five seconds left, Greeley drew a foul and made a pair of free throws for a 74-72 lead. The Pioneers had one last opportunity to tie or take a lead in the closing seconds, but they were unable to score a basket as SMU won the final game of the Pioneer Conference Challenge, 74-72.
- Klonaras scored a game high 25 points for the Pioneers (his CSUEB career-high), going 9-for-15 from the floor, including 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, as well as three free throws.
- Grady Lewis scored 19 points and had a team-high 12 rebounds for a double-double.
- Campbell had a season-high 16 points.
- Defensively, Klonaras had four steals.
- The Pioneers shot 41.9 percent from the floor and 14-for-19 from the free throw line.
- The rebound battle was even between both teams at 38 each.
Cal State East Bay: 2-2
Saint Martin's: 5-0
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
On Saturday, November 25, the Pioneers host a non-conference game against Alaska Fairbanks at Pioneer Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
