Box Score

ROHNERT PARK -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team came up with a big performance to earn a much-needed split of California Collegiate Athletic Association games.

The Golden Eagles got a game-high 23 points from Chris Fields and beat Sonoma State, 77-72, Saturday night in The Wolves Den. Cal State L.A. (2-1, 1-1 CCAA) shot 54.5 percent from the floor and made sure it wouldn't get swept on one of the toughest road trips in the CCAA. The Golden Eagles had lost their conference opener on Thursday at Humboldt State.

Fields, who was 9-of-16 from the field and scored more than 20 points for a second straight game, led three Golden Eagles in double figures. Mark Dorsey II added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Nuno Furtado had 11 points and five rebounds.

Kyle Shandera led Sonoma State (1-5, 1-1 CCAA) with 16 points and four rebounds, while Sterling Arterberry also had 16 points.

The Golden Eagles had a 35-32 rebounding advantage and also limited Sonoma State to just 38.7 percent shooting. The Golden Eagles won despite making only 11-of-24 free-throw attempts. Sonoma State was much more effective from the line, knocking down 17-of-21 tries.

Cal State L.A. missed nine of its 15 attempts in the second half.

The Golden Eagles started quickly and spent most of the game ahead, although never by more than eight points. Cal State L.A. trailed only once in the first half, 21-20, after a 3-pointer by Will Olson with 6:41 remaining in the period. The Golden Eagles quickly countered, though, and regained the lead on a 3-pointer by Trevor Hopkins just 16 seconds later. Cal State L.A. took its biggest lead of the half, 29-21, after a three-point play by Dorsey and settled for a 32-26 halftime lead.

Sonoma State held the lead once in the second half, 39-38, after a three-point play by Arterberry with 17 minutes remaining, but, once again, Cal State L.A. responded quickly. A 3-pointer by Fields gave the Golden Eagles the lead back at 41-39, with 16:24 remaining and the Golden Eagles led the rest of the way. Cal State L.A. boosted its lead back to eight points, 67-59, with 6:19 to go and led by at least three points the rest of the way.

The Golden Eagles led by six points, 73-67, with 1:09 left after a free throw by Furtado and, despite missing four free throws down the stretch, never let Sonoma State have a chance at tying the game. A late 3-pointer by Ash Arnott made it 75-72 with two seconds left, but Duwayne King found Furtado alone for a layup before expired.

Cal State L.A. will return to action with a non-conference road game at Holy Names on Monday, Dec. 14.