ROHNERT PARK, Calif-  Cal State East Bay overcame a 23-point first half deficit to force overtime before defeating Sonoma State 89-87 on Thursday evening in one of the more bizarre finishes in recent history.  The Pioneers win their second straight to improve to 5-10, 2-8 CCAA.  The Seawolves drop to 4-12, 3-8 CCAA with the heartbreaking defeat.

That the game got to overtime would have been a shock to any fan that left the game at halftime.  The Seawolves came out firing on all cylinders in the first half, shooting 69.2% from the field on their way to a 43-27 halftime edge.  Sonoma would lead by as many as 23, at 41-18 with 3:49 left, in a thoroughly dominating 20 minutes of basketball.

Slowly, but surely, the Pioneers chipped away at the Seawolves' lead.  Behind the strong play of point guard Jun Uchida, among others, the Pioneers were able to get the lead down to four with 58 seconds left on a jumper by Frankie McWirt.

After a turnover by Steven Pratt, McWirt hit a three-pointer with 48 seconds remaining to pull the Pioneers within one.  Sonoma would counter with three consecutive free throws, one by Pratt and two by Chad Chambers, to push the lead back to four with 11 seconds to go. 

Sent to the line with seven ticks on the scoreboard, Uchida hit two to cut the lead back to two at 76-74.  Sonoma's Mike Nelson was fouled just one second later, but his trip to the charity stripe yielded just one point, giving the Pioneers a chance to tie things up if they could hit a three with six seconds left.

With time running down, Uchida was smothered by the Seawolf defense, but he was able to kick it over to Will Freedman, a junior who had made just one three-pointer all year coming into the game.  Freedman's buzzer-beating shot rolled around the rim before finally settling through the hoop, pushing the game to overtime and completing the Pioneer comeback. 

The teams would trade three-pointers early in overtime, but then the game turned to the free throw line, where the squads traded one-pointers.  After a couple of freebies by Jawaan Rubin put the Pioneers up 84-82 with 1:51 left, the Pioneers got the ball back after a costly Seawolf turnover.  Uchida would get fouled, then hit one of two free throws to give CSUEB a three-point lead, 85-82, with under a minute left.

With 32 seconds on the clock, Sterling Arterberry swished a pair of free throws to draw Sonoma State within one.  After getting fouled, Uchida made just one of two, and after a couple of free throws were made by Pratt, the teams were tied up at 86 with 13 seconds remaining.

Hoping for a chance at the last shot, the Pioneers in-bounded the ball to Frankie McWirt, who was double teamed by the Seawolves.  Dangerously close to committing a foul, the Seawolves were able to force McWirt into a traveling call, giving the Seawolves the ball with six seconds left, a tied score, and a chance at the overtime win.

After a timeout, Chris Weber went to in-bound.  His throw, however, bounced down the line, never going in, until about 30 feet up court when the Pioneers' Jun Uchida picked it up and dished it to Jawaan Rubin, who laid it in.  Rubin was fouled on the shot, and his ensuing free throw gave Cal State East Bay a three-point lead. 

Steven Pratt was fouled with one second left and sent to the line for two.  He made the first, but intentionally missed the second, though Sonoma could not corral the rebound, ending the game and leaving the crowd and the Seawolf bench stunned.

The Seawolves got 20 points from Pratt to lead all scorers.  Jason Walter and Chad Chambers were also in double figures.  As a team, the Seawolves shot 55.6% from the field, their second-highest mark of the season, though they were just 34 of 55 (61.8%) from the free throw line.

Cal State East Bay got 19 points from Uchida and 18 from Freedman.  Freedman also had nine rebounds and Uchida posted six assists, both game-highs. 

The Seawolves will try to regroup on Saturday when they host UC San Diego in a crucial CCAA game.

Box Score:  Cal State East Bay 89, Sonoma State 87