SF State’s men’s basketball team won its fourth consecutive home game Saturday, and look to continue that winning streak into the new year’s league play—as long as chronic shooting and defense problems are remedied in the winter break, coach Bill Treseler said.

“I don’t think we even felt like we were really in sync,” Treseler said, following a 78-58 win over the Pacific Union College Pioneers Saturday. “It was kind of choppy. To compete in the (California Collegiate Athletic Association), we have to be playing well pretty much every night.”

The Gators (6-3, 1-1 CCAA) kept a 10-point lead throughout most of Saturday’s win over the Pioneers (0-5), who compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They scored 19 from the free-throw line, but also fouled 27 times to put the Pioneers in double bonus in the first half.

Led by David Van Someren’s eight points, four steals and five rebounds, the Gators took a 41-31 halftime lead, making 45 percent from the field. Both teams were in double-bonus foul status, with SF State’s 16 fouls topping the Pioneers’ 10.

The Gators out-rebounded the Pioneers 24-15 in the first half, and continued their run to trump the Pioneers 51-32 by the end of the game, racking up more than 18 points from rebounds.

Junior guard Darryl Robinson, who has averaged five points a game this season, tallied a career-high 18 points, eight rebounds and two steals, shooting 8-13 from the field and 2-4 from the free-throw line.

“That was my career high, but I think I could have done better,” Robinson said. “I try to be as perfect as I can. I try to keep my intensity up.”

Treseler was pleased with Robinson’s efforts at both ends of the court, as well as his leadership skills when it came to running the plays.

“He’s kind of our Bud Lite player of the week,” Treseler said.

Sophomore center Derek Fletcher added eight points and two blocks, before fouling out of the game in the last minutes. It was his best game in a while, said Treseler.

“I’ve been struggling on offense, so I’ve tried to focus on defense,” said Fletcher, who was 3-7 from the field and 2-4 from the free throw line.

The Gators forced eight turnovers and followed through by making 17 points, while giving up only four balls. But they also got into early foul trouble, giving up 19 points at the foul line.

However, they shot 13-21 from the foul line, keeping with their season average of 62 percent.

Robert Hayes, a freshman guard, picked up 13 points while Chris Rodriguez and Alex Thomas walked off the court with eight points each.

The Gators pressed the Pioneers for most of the game but “we got too aggressive on the press,” Treseler said.

“I don’t think this was our best defensive game—too much penetration and that’s why we got into foul trouble,” the coach said. “We’re trying to be a pressure team that doesn’t foul.”

Treseler added that until the Gators’ next game on Jan. 4, practice will be back to fundamentals, mostly focusing on rhythm, confidence and practice—including free throws.

SF State next plays at Cal State Stanislaus Jan 4, at 7 p.m. The next home game is against Humboldt State on Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m.