HAYWARD, Calif. – Having already clinched a spot in the upcoming CCAA Tournament, Cal State East Bay men's basketball played the third game in a five game homestand taking on Cal State San Marcos at Pioneer Gymnasium. The Pioneers won a tight contest 89-83 for their third consecutive victory.
 

GAME SUMMARY

Both teams traded multiple baskets for an early stretch of the game. After Dimitrios Klonaras tied the game at 9-9 with 15:46 left in the half, the Cougars went on a 15-5 run, capped by a Jack Schultz 3- pointer with 11:17 left, to give the Cougars a 24-14 lead. The Pioneers then answered with a 15-3 run, capped by a Klonaras 3- pointer with 7:05 left, to take a 29-27 lead. The Pioneers would gain their largest lead of the half at seven, at 36-29, on a Teiano Hardee layup with 3:14 left. The Cougars went on a 10-2 run, capped by a Uriah Foster 3-pointer with 56 seconds left, to give the Cougars a 39-38 lead. Daeshawn Eaton would give the Pioneers a 40-39 lead at halftime on a layup with three seconds left.
 
The Cougars started the second half on a 22-15 run, capped by an Edwyn Collins layup with 11:54 left, to take a 61-55 lead. From that point on, the Pioneers went on a 14-7 run, capped off by a Kevin Ebiriekwe layup with 9:28 left, for a 69-68 lead. Although the game was within single digits down the stretch, the lead was not relinquished as the Pioneers won 89-83.
 

NOTABLE STATS

• Klonaras scored a career-high 28 points, going 11-for-17 from the floor and 3-for-5 from the free throw line. From beyond the arc, he made three 3-pointers.
• Tyree Campbell and Hardee scored 14 points apiece and Eaton added 10 points in the victory.
• Klonaras also led the Pioneers in rebounds with nine and assists with eight. Defensively, he had a block and two steals.
• Collins scored 23 points for the Cougars.
• CSUEB shot 55.6 percent from the field while the Cougars shot 48.4 percent in field goals.
• The Pioneers outrebounded the Cougars 40-26 on Thursday.

POSTGAME QUOTE

CSUEB head coach Bryan Rooney following Thursday's win:
"Credit to San Marcos-they are hard to guard. With that said, tonight was a great example of senior leadership. Dimitrios was special offensively. When he is making plays for others and also staying aggressive with his own shots, we become much more dynamic. I also thought Chris [James], Daeshawn and Kevin led us in key moments."
 

RECORDS

Cal State East Bay: 17-9, 13-7 CCAA
Cal State San Marcos: 10-16, 9-11 CCAA
 

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

The Pioneers will take on Sonoma State at Pioneer Gymnasium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Cal State East Bay will look to avenge a 65-61 loss on January 18 to the Seawolves.