CSUEB men's cagers get first CCAA, NCAA Div. II victory
Demitrius Owens
- January 16, 2010
Playing its best game of the season, Cal State East Bay's men's basketball team defeated Cal State Monterey Bay 88-69 Saturday (Jan. 16) for its first-ever victory as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association and as an NCAA Division II program.
The game also marked the 200th career coaching victory for CSUEB head coach Will Biggs. His team improved its record to 1-8 in conference play, 4-10 overall in its inaugural campaign in the conference and on the NCAA Division II level.
The host Pioneers jumped out to a 17-6 lead in the first half on a three-pointer by Demitrius Owens. Cal State East Bay held a 42-33 halftime lead while shooting a sizzling 63 percent from the field. Frankie McWirt and Will Freedman led the way for CSUEB with 12 and eight points respectively, as the Pioneers held a 21-10 advantage on the boards.
In the second half, Monterey Bay cut CSUEB’s lead to 44-41 on a three pointer by Sean Jergo. But a pair of free throws by Jun Uchida gave the Pioneers a 73-64 lead with 1:48 remaining, and from there CSUEB went on a 15-5 run led by Melvin Fleming’s seven points. CCAA game (1-8) and improve to 4-10 for the season.
For the game, the Pioneers shot 53.4 percent from the field, making 31 of 58 shots, while converting 87 percent (20 of 23) of their free throws.
Cal State East Bay had a 39-29 rebounding edge and recorded a season-high 25 assists. Saeed Gaston led four Pioneer players in double figures with 16 points on six of eight shooting from the field. Flemings and McWirt each scored 12 points while Freedman had 10. Mark Samuels and Uchida had seven and six assists respectively. Jawaan Rubin led the Pioneers with eight rebounds.
"I was glad to win my 200th game at Cal State East Bay," said Pioneer coach Will Biggs. "I've been blessed with some good teams over the past 13 years." "The team really rallied around me tonight after the passing of my Dad earlier in the week. I felt the team effort was great and we came ready to play. Tonight was a new start for this team."
The Cal State East Bay men's and women's basketball teams will play doubleheaders at Sonoma State this Thursday (Jan. 21) and at Humboldt State this Saturday (Jan. 23). The Pioneers return home to play Cal State San Bernardino on Jan. 28, Cal Poly Pomona on Jan. 30, Cal State Los Angeles on Feb. 4, and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Feb. 6. CSUEB home basketball doubleheaders begin at 5:30 p.m. (for women's games) and 7:30 p.m. for men's contests.