LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team completed the first half of California Collegiate Athletic Association play in grand fashion.

 

The Golden Eagles, despite having only seven players suited up for the second straight evening, overpowered Chico State, 82-51, Saturday night in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (12-5, 6-4 CCAA) won for the fifth time in the last six games.

 

Christopher Mark completed a dominating weekend, recording his second double-double in as many nights. Mark had a season-high 29 points and 16 rebounds to lead four Golden Eagles in double figures. Vincent Camper, who has been named the CCAA Player of the Week two weeks in a row, had 22 points and eight rebounds, Demetrius Hazel had 13 points and six rebounds, while Tyler Polo had 10 points and four rebounds.

 

Cal State L.A. shot 49.2 percent for the game and held a 43-33 rebounding edge. The Golden Eagles also knocked down 16 of 21 free-throw attempts and forced 21 turnovers while committing 15.

 

Mike Martin and Darroll Phillips scored 10 points each to lead Chico State (5-12, 1-9 CCAA). The Wildcats shot 33.9 percent from the floor and made only four of 22 attempts from behind the 3-point arc.

 

The Wildcats started well and held a 7-4 lead after a 3-pointer by Phillips with 14:58 to go in the first half. The Golden Eagles scored the next 12 points to take a 16-7 advantage and held the lead the rest of the way. Two free throws by Junior Rodriguez started the run, a layup by Polo gave the Golden Eagles the lead, a three-point play by Mark, a free throw by Mark, a dunk by Mark off an assist by Eric Flournoy and a jumper by Camper accounted for the 12 points.

 

A 3-pointer by Camper gave the Golden Eagles their first double-digit lead of the half, 19-9, with 8:57 remaining in the period. Cal State L.A. led by as many as 16 points in the half, but a 3-pointer by Chico State's Jesse Soto made it 34-22 at halftime.

 

Cal State L.A. started the second half by scoring the first 10 points to take a 44-22 edge. A 3-pointer by Camper started the half, a dunk by Mark, a 3-pointer by Hazel and a layup by Camper off an assist by Hazel completed the spurt.

Cal State L.A. led by at least 20 points the rest of the way and held advantages as large as 33 points.

 

Rodriguez had six points and seven rebounds, Trenod Whitfield-Smith had two points and three rebounds and Flournoy had seven assists and three steals for the Golden Eagles.

 

Cal State L.A. will return to action with a road game at Sonoma State on Friday.