Seniors Come Up Big in Overtime Win Over Sonoma State
Senior Jawaan Rubin led the Pioneers with 23 points and seven rebounds in his final game at East Bay. (Photo: Kelly Paris)
- February 26, 2010
HAYWARD, Calif. - The five seniors on the Pioneer men's basketball team made their final game at Cal State East Bay count, coming from behind in a 94-82 overtime victory over Sonoma State on Friday night. Seniors Jawaan Rubin, Jun Uchida, Scott Knox, Saeed Gatson and Frankie McWhirt played the final 10 minutes of regulation and the entire overtime period, closing a 14-point Seawolf lead to lead the Pioneers to the Homecoming game victory.
"What a great way for the seniors to go out," Biggs said. "They rose to the occasion and played their best game of the season."
The win, the second in overtime over Sonoma State, snaps an 11-game losing streak for the Pioneers, who finish their first season in Division II with a 6-12 overall record and a 3-19 mark in CCAA play.
Cal State East Bay jumped out to a 16-7 lead with 10:28 remaining in the first half. Sonoma State took a 25-19 advantage with 4:24 left. The Pioneers led 32-30 at halftime on a jumper by Demitrius Owens to close the first frame.
After a three from Will Olsem put the Seawolves up 59-44 with 10:54 to play, East Bay Head Coach Will Biggs made what would be his final substitutions of the game, bringing the five seniors together on the court. The group cut the lead down to 10 before Sonoma responded, finally getting a jumper and free throw conversion from Steven Pratt to take a 65-51 lead with 8:20 left. The Pioneers cut the lead to 72-71 with 1:16 remaining thanks to 10 points from Gatson and five from Rubin during the 21-8 run.
The second of two Rubin free throws tied the game at 73 with 23 seconds left. Rubin converted a three-point play with six seconds remaining to give the Pioneers a 76-73 lead before Pratt hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the Pioneers and Seawolves into overtime for the second time in as many meetings this year.
With a vocal crowd behind them, the Pioneers opened overtime with a 7-0 run that saw Sonoma turn the ball over twice in just over a minute to give East Bay an 83-76 lead with 3:19 left. Cal State East Bay extended its lead to 92-82 with 1:01 remaining and closed the scoring on a pair of McWhirt free throws, sealing the 12-point victory.
The Pioneers shot 60 percent in the second half and converted 3-of-5 shots in the overtime. For the game, the Pioneers converted 23-of-28 free throws. Rubin led four Pioneer seniors in double figures with 23 points and seven rebounds. Knox followed with 21 points including five three pointers. Gatson scored 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. McWirt had a big game with 14 points while Uchida had four assists.
Knox was happy to see his four-year career go into overtime.
"It was great to extend my playing career," Knox said. "What a great night."
Sonoma State had four players in double figures led by Olsem and Pratt with 19 each.