RIVERSIDE – The University of Antelope Valley Pioneers (1-8; 1-0 Cal Pac) earned their initial win of the season with a 76-61 victory over the Golden Eagles of La Sierra University (2-8; 0-1 Cal Pac), in intercollegiate California Pacific Conference men’s basketball action inside Alumni Pavilion Gymnasium in Riverside on Saturday.

UAV led by as many as 11 points in the opening half and would hold a six-point advantage at the intermission, 35-29. The Pioneers would pull away from the Golden Eagles in the second half however, leading by as many as 22 points on their way to locking up their first win of the season, 76-61, outscoring La Sierra in the second half, 41-32.

Senior forward Christian Drayton (Lufkin, TX) led all Pioneers with 17 points to go along with a game and season-high 22 boards to complete his fifth double-double of the season, and also added four blocks, one assist and one steal.

Senior guard Miles Nolen-Webb (San Diego, CA) chipped in with 15 points, three rebounds and one assist, senior guard Hayden Hall (Portland, OR) added 14 points, a game-high five assists, two rebounds and two steals, and junior forward Justin Snavely (San Bernardino, CA) scored eight points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked one shot.

UAV hit 24-of-60 field goals (.400), 8-of-22 three-pointers (.364), 20-of-29 free throws (.690), and outrebounded the Golden Eagles, 50-36. UAV committed 23 turnovers and stole the ball nine times. La Sierra made 20-of-61 shots (.328), 6-of-21 three-pointers (.286) and 15-of-25 free throws (.600) and committed 22 turnovers and stole the ball from UAV 11 times.

NEXT GAME: Coached by Darwin Cook, the Pioneers return home to host Bethesda University of California for a non-conference game on Monday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. PST inside the Pioneer Event Center in Lancaster.