CHICO, Calif-  Playing without three players counted on to provide the bulk of their scoring production this season, the Sonoma State men's basketball team continued to struggle on Saturday night, dropping their fourth straight, 71-64 to Lewis & Clark College at the Mac Martin Classic in Chico.  The Seawolves go to 0-4 on the season while the Pioneers picked up their first victory, improving to 1-4.

With Ben Washington, this year's leading returning scorer, looking at a redshirt season and both Mike Nelson and Steven Pratt injured in the Seawolves' first game of the year, the Seawolves have had to rely on an extremely young core.  In fact, Saturday night's starting lineup featured three freshmen and a redshirt sophomore. 

The Seawolf youngsters got off to a strong start, leading Lewis & Clark by as many as four in the first half before a 12-2 run by the Pioneers put them in front midway through the frame.  Lewis & Clark would expand their lead to as many as 13 early in the second half, but the Seawolves did not go away, slowly clawing their way back.

Led by freshman Steve Lackey, who scored nine consecutive points for Sonoma on his way to a team-high 13, the Seawolves rallied to take the lead on a layup by Kyle Shandera with 5:56 remaining in the game.

A three-point play by Kelly Edwards re-captured the lead for Lewis & Clark, but Sonoma was quick to answer, tying things up at 57 on a Jason Walter layup with just under four minutes to go.  From that point, however, the Pioneers outscored the Seawolves 14-7 to pull away.

Lackey's career-high 13 points came on 6-of-8 shooting.  He also nabbed five rebounds.  Walter (12) and Shandera (10) were also in double figures for Sonoma State.  Patrick Scott posted a career-high ten rebounds in the defeat.

Edwards, who was 11-of-11 from the free throw line, led all players with 27 points for the Pioneers.  James Hollins pitched in with 19 points. 

The Seawolves will now turn their sights to conference play, which opens on Thursday, December 3rd when they host Cal State Dominguez Hills (0-2) at The Wolves' Den in Rohnert Park.

Box Score:  Lewis & Clark 71, Sonoma State 64

ALL-TOURNAMENT:  Following the final game of the Mac Martin Invitational on Saturday, Sonoma State freshman Patrick Scott was named to the All-Tournament team.  Scott averaged 6.0 points and 9.5 rebounds over the weekend.