Cal State humbles outmanned Simpson

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Feb 22, 2008 | by Kyle Bonagura

HAYWARD -- Cal State East Bay opened the California Pacific Conference tournament with a 100-58 demolition of visiting Simpson University on Thursday.

The tournament host was challenged in no way. The Pioneers toyed with Simpson as if it were a high school team.

East Bay came out hot, scoring the game's first 14 points before Simpson scored with a runner in the lane. The lead would grow to 21- 2 with 11:30 left in the first half, and grew to as many as 29 points before being 48-20 at the half.

Shea Frazee was smoking from 3-point range, hitting all four of his long-range shots in the first half. He added two more 3- pointers in the second half and had a game-high 20 points.

"I try to get in a trance before the game," he said. "They disrespected me by leaving me open early, and then I started hitting shots."

The teams split their two meetings during the regular season, each winning by two, so it was hard to envision Thursday's blowout.

"They've been on the road for awhile, so I think they were just tired," East Bay coach Will Biggs said. "Then once we got going that was it."

Biggs went to the bench early in the second half, but the Pioneers continued to light up the scoreboard with 3-pointers and fastbreaks.

They shot 61.5 percent from the field and 60 percent from 3- point range.

East Bay will host No.2 Menlo College in the semifinals today at 7 p.m. The tournament champion will receive an at-large berth in the NAIA Division II National Tournament.

It will take another outstanding effort if the Pioneers want to get past Menlo, which beat them twice this year.

"They're out here watching us sweat as they rest," Briggs said. "They're a very well-coached, physical team that plays as one."

Simpson (10-19) defeated CSU Maritime in the first round, but played more like the team that started the season 1-15.

James Logan High product Jawaan Rubin scored 10 points for the Pioneers.

CSU East Bay 100, Simpson 58

SIMPSON (fg ftm-fta tp) -- Payne 1 0-0 2, Morrison 4 2-2 12, Washington 4 4-5 12, Nixon 7 4-8 18, Bond 0 2-3 2, Johnson 0 2-3 2, Sidener 1 0-0 2, Ellison 1 2-4 4, Eoff 1 1-1 4. Totals 19 17-26 58.

CSUEB (fg ftm-fta tp) -- Frazee 7 0-0 20, Nunes 1 3-4 5, Walker 3 2-2 8, Rubin 4 2-4 10, Jones 2 2-2 6, Uchida 1 5-6 7, Knox 6 0-0 16, Creek 1 0-0 3, Griffin 2 0-1 4, Hernandez 0 2-2 2, Flemings 4 0-0 12, Holmes 1 0-2 2, Jones 2 1-1 5. Totals 34 17-24 100.

Halftime score -- East Bay 48, Simpson 20.3-point goals -- Simpson 3 (Morrison 2, Eoff); CSUEB 15 (Frazee 6, Knox 4, Creek, Flemings 4). Fouled out--none.Records_CSU East Bay 14-12, Simpson 10- 19.