HAYWARD, Calif. — The San Francisco State men's basketball team was unable to overcome a first-half deficit in a 69-65 loss at Cal State East Bay on Sunday afternoon.
- With the loss, the Gators split the season series with the Pioneers. SF State slips to 3-7 on the year and is now 1-3 in CCAA play. CSUEB improves to 4-6 on the season and is 2-2 in conference action.
- Tyjean Burrell scored a team-high 17 points. Caden Flowers scored 14 points and John Bakke added nine points in the loss.
- The Gators shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) from the field but struggled from deep, where they shot just 13.6 percent (3-of-22). The Gators also surrendered a season-high 54.2 percent (26-of-48) to the Pioneers.
- CSUEB was led by Ramsey Huff's game-high 18 points. Tyree Campbell added 16 points on 8-of-14 shooting, Teiano Hardee added a dozen points, and Beril Kabamba scored 10 points.
- The Pioneers also edged the Gators in the rebounding battle, 33-30.
SF State led briefly at the five-minute mark in the first half, 25-23, after a Flowers steal led to a Burrell three-pointer. The Gators built the lead to 27-23 but the game was tied just as quickly at 31-31 with under three minutes to go in the half. The Pioneers closed the half out on a 7-2 run that gave them the lead for good and found the Gators trailing 38-33 at intermission.
SF State trailed by just two points with 14:45 to go in the second half but the Pioneers countered with a 5-0 run to make it a seven-point lead, then the deficit grew to double digits with just over 10 minutes to go. Down eight with seven minutes to play, the Gators held the Pioneers scoreless for the next three minutes but didn't score either. Five consecutive points from Flowers pulled the Gators to within three, 65-62, with under a minute to go. The Gators were forced to foul and Jordan Espinoza made both of his free throws. Bakke made one of two free throws to keep the Gators within four. A Campbell turnover gave the ball back to the Gators with under half a minute remaining. Flowers missed a three ball but Fedrick Pernell grabbed the offensive board and was fouled, and made both free throws. The Gators fouled and this time Espinoza missed the free throw. Bakke grabbed the rebound but the Gators turned the ball over and Campbell sealed it for the Pioneers with the steal and a dunk.
The Gators flip the calendar to 2025 and will host their next four games, beginning with Sonoma State on Thursday, January 2 at 7:30 p.m. Live stats will be available at sfstategators.com, and fans can tune in to the action on FloCollege.
