Hayward, Calif---  SF State Gators used 50% shooting in the first half to key their 61-43 road California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) win over the Cal State East Bay Pioneers this evening in Hayward.  Marquel Hoskins (Beloit, Wisconsin, Reedley College) tied his season high with 22 points to lead the way for the Gators. The Gators held Cal State East Bay to just 36% shooting from the field including just 33% from three-point range.

            “Our intensity and focus in the first half was outstanding,” said SF State Head Coach Bill Treseler.  “Marquel Hoskins took on a challenge and stepped up big,” added Treseler.  “Joshua Hash (Eureka, California, College of the Redwoods), Tim Pratt (Eureka, California, College of the Redwoods), and Mike Lavelle (San Francisco, California, Skyline College) were solid throughout.”

SF State (12-4, 5-3 CCAA) scored the game's first nine points of the game and outscored the Pioneers 24-7 in the first nine minutes of the game to take a 24-7 lead.  Hoskins scored 12 of his 22 points during the surge for the Gators.  Hoskins' jumper with 1:01 left in the first half gave them a 37-15 lead heading into the locker room.

            Cal State East Bay (3-10, 0-8 CCAA) outscored the Gators 11-7 in the first seven minutes of the second stanza to cut SF State's lead to 44-26 on a Mark Samuels' three-point play.  The Pioneers cut SF State's lead to 16 (46-30) with 10:45, but that is the closest that Cal State East Bay could get as the Gators held on for a 61-43 victory.

            Mark Samuels led the way for the Pioneers with 12 points.  The Gators forced 12 turnovers while recording nine steals, three by Hoskins.

            The Gators will return to the court this Saturday, January 16, when they travel to La Jolla for a 7:30pm scheduled CCAA contest with UC San Diego, who lost 66-62 to CSU Monterey Bay this evening.
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