Riverside, Calif. – The men's basketball team suffered another single-digit loss, 85-82, in Saturday night's Cal Pac opener, at the University of Antelope Valley. It was a back-and-forth affair that consisted of nine lead changes and four tie scores. The Golden Eagles fall to 2-9 on the season and will return to non-conference play for the next three contests before jumping back into the Cal Pac schedule.
La Sierra wasted no time in taking control of the game with a 12-2 run in the first four minutes of play. They held the lead for much of the first half, until the Pioneers were able to take their first lead of the night, 28-27, with 2:48 remaining in the half. By the end of the half, the Pioneers enjoyed a 37-35 advantage over the Golden Eagles.
Similar to the start of the game, the Golden Eagles used a 22-8 run, over the first six and a half minutes of the second half to reclaim the lead, 57-45, their largest lead of the game. But over the next 10 minutes of play, the Pioneers chipped away and eventually took a 73-72 lead with 3:22 remaining. With just under three minutes to play, a field goal by Saladine Ganda gave the Golden Eagles a 74-73 lead, but it would be the last lead the Golden Eagles would hold.
Isaac Deese led all players with 27 points, on 11-of-18 shooting, with seven rebounds and four assists. Rey Solorzano added a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Zac Phororo and Ganda each scored 11 points and pulled down three rebounds in the game.
The team shot an impressive 51-percent from the field, including 10-of-22 (46 percent) from the 3-point line, but didn't do themselves any favors from the charity stripe where they only converted eight of their 19 free throw attempts.
The team will now turn their focus to final exams this week before returning to the floor next Saturday, December 16, when they host Pomona-Pitzer College for a non-conference match-up. Saturday night's game is scheduled for a 6pm tip.