HAYWARD, Calif. – A game-high 18 points from Marc Matthews weren't enough for the Montana State University Billings men's basketball team on Saturday evening, as the Yellowjackets fell to host Cal State University East Bay 64-50 inside Pioneer Gymnasium.
 
Matthews made 5 of 14 shots including 3 of 6 from 3-point range, and chipped in five free-throws in the 18-point effort. Emmanuel Johnson was also in double figures with 14 points, but the 'Jackets fell to 0-2 on the season with the loss.
 
"I felt like we played a little better on the defensive end tonight," commented MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. "The guys competed and executed well, but offensively we just weren't very solid. We had too many turnovers and our shooting percentage was not great."
 
The Yellowjackets had 21 giveaways on the game, and were hampered by a field-goal percentage of 24.4 (11-for-45). The Pioneers improved to 1-0 with a win in their season opener, capitalizing with 18 points off of turnovers.
 
Contrary to their slow start to the second half on Friday night, the 'Jackets opened the second period strong and built a five-point lead after a three by Matthews four minutes in.
 
Momentum shifted from that point however, as the Pioneers gained command and extended their lead out to 10 points with a three from Jack Pasquini and a layup by Jalen Richard inside of nine minutes to play.
 
The 'Jackets managed to get it to a two-possession game after a pair of free-throws by Johnson, but the six-point deficit was the closest MSUB got the rest of the way.
 
Richard paced a trio of CSUEB double-figure scorers on the evening, as he finished with 13 points and also tied for the team high in steals with three. Alex Manu (12) and Ryan Okwudibonye (11) were the Pioneers' other leading scorers, with the latter grabbing a team-best eight rebounds.
 
The Yellowjackets won the battle on the boards 36-34, thanks in large part to a game-high nine rebounds from redshirt freshman Christian Evans. The Pioneers held a hefty advantage underneath the basket however, scoring 28 points in the paint compared with 14 for the 'Jackets.
 
Pasquini contributed seven of CSUEB's rebounds, and Patrick Marr also had seven with a game-high three blocks. The Pios shot 40 percent from the field (22-for-55), 29.4 percent from 3-point range (5-for-17), and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line (15-for-21). Eight of the Pioneers' 34 rebounds came on the offensive end, and CSUEB received a generous 29 points off of its bench.
 
In addition to its poor shooting percentage from the floor, MSUB made just 3 of 14 3-point attempts (21.4 percent) and 25 of 36 shots from the free-throw line (69.4 percent).
 
"We have a young team that is still learning how to compete at the college level," Stevens said. "We are looking forward to next week's games, and another chance to improve."
 
THE BUZZ: Matthews was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game for MSUB…CSUEB defeated the Yellowjackets last season 86-80 in the first-ever meeting between the programs…the 'Jackets had just three assists on the game against their 21 turnovers.
 
NEXT UP: MSUB hosts Rocky Mountain College in an exhibition game on Nov. 18 at Alterowitz Gym with a 7 p.m. tipoff time. The Yellowjackets' next counting contest will be on the road at Black Hills State University on Nov. 21 at 2 p.m.