ATHERTON, Calif. – Staring at a nine-point deficit in the second half would be too much for most struggling teams, but thanks to a 20-4 run Menlo College isn’t struggling anymore after a 70-63 victory over CSU-East Bay in California Pacific Conference men’s basketball on Wednesday night at Haynes-Prim Pavilion.

The Oaks have now won two consecutive Cal Pac games after starting their season with six losses to improve to 2-1 in conference and 2-6 overall. CSU-East Bay took one on the chin for the first time in conference, dropping to 2-1 in the Cal Pac and 4-4 overall.

After an even first half that featured two ties and five lead changes, the Pioneers started the second half with what could have been a statement-making run. CSU-East Bay’s Tauran Moore and Fabien Baker each made a pair of shots to seemingly wrest control of a tight game with an 11-2 spurt that gave the visitors a 40-31 advantage four-and-a-half minutes in the half.

Menlo was slow to answer, turning the ball over on its next two possessions before Tim Kees – who made a habit out of getting into the lane all night – started what proved to be the Oaks game-changing 20-4 run. Logan Shoffner followed with a basket off a Chris Cobb assist before Cobb drained a 3-pointer that trimmed the Pioneers lead to two points.

Jason Logan, who came through with a huge second half for Menlo, teamed with Julian Harris to score the next 13 Oaks points. Logan made his first basket of the game between scores from CSU-East Bay’s Moore and Pete Johnson, and sunk a 3-pointer before Harris gave Menlo the lead for good with a three-point play. Logan added another pair when he scored off a rebound of his own missed shot and Harris made a 3-pointer to end the run four minutes, 50 seconds after it began. The Oaks led 51-44 with just under 10 minutes to play.

Menlo answered every threat from that point on, never giving the Pioneers a possession when they trailed by fewer than four points. When CSU-East Bay did trim its deficit to three points, Cobb responded with a 3-pointer that doubled the Oaks lead with three minutes, seven seconds to play. Menlo made 5-of-8 free throws after Brandon Cochran’s field goal with little more than two minutes to play to stave off the Pioneers comeback attempt.

The Oaks shot a crisp 50 percent from the field, making 6-of-11 3-pointers and winning the rebounding battle 29-24 against the larger Pioneers. Cobb scored a season-high 14 points to lead Menlo while Kees had 13 points, five rebounds. Harris added 12 points while Logan and Shoffner each scored 10 off the bench. Logan netted all his points after halftime.

Moore paced the Pioneers with 18 points on 7-for-17 shooting while Baker finished with 14 points, seven rebounds. Jamil Muchell added nine points.

Menlo will make a quick trip to the Hoop N Surf this weekend in Hawaii. The Oaks will take on Rio Grande on Friday before playing BYU-Hawaii on Saturday. CSU-East Bay hosts William Jessup on Saturday.