Box Score
LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team just is unable to shake its string of frustrating defeats.
The Golden Eagles were unable to hold a 14-point lead in the final six minutes of the game and ultimately lost to Chico State, 76-74, in overtime Friday night in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (10-14, 5-12 CCAA) lost its eight straight game while Chico State snapped its seven-game losing streak with steadier play down the stretch.
The Wildcats (7-17, 4-13 CCAA) sent the game into overtime when Zach Graves banked in a 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining to tie the score at 68-68. Then, Chico State got what turned out to be the game-winner when Graves tossed up a shot that hit the back rim, bounced straight up and fell through with eight seconds left. Cal State L.A. was unable to get off a clean shot before the buzzer and Chico State had the win.
Cal State L.A. dropped its second straight overtime decision and has lost its last three by a total of seven points.
Graves finished with a game-high 20 points, while Andy Bocian had 19 points and Nick Lonnegren had 13 points.
Cal State L.A. shot 50 percent for the game and held Chico State to 39.7 percent shooting. The Golden Eagles held a 40-31 rebounding edge, but also turned the ball over 14 times to just seven for the Wildcats and missed eight free throws (18-of-26) while Chico State missed only three (17-of-20).
The Golden Eagles took a quick 3-0 lead on a there-point play by Gant in the opening minute, but Chico State rolled off the next 11 points and took its largest lead of the game at 11-3.
The Golden Eagles fought back and tied the game at 23-23 after a jumper by Hart. Chico State, though, scored the last five points of the half to take a 36-29 halftime lead.
A 3-pointer by Hart got the Golden Eagles off and running in the second half and Cal State L.A. scored the first seven points of the second half at 36-36. Then, with the score tied at 40-40, the Golden Eagles went on a 21-7 run and opened up a 61-47 lead with 5:53 to play. The stretch included a 10-0 run that included a pair of free throws by Gant, back-to-back 3-pointers by Bell and Jones and concluded with two free throws by Gant.
The Wildcats, though, quickly got back into it with an 11-2 run that sliced the deficit to 63-58 with 2:37 to go after three free throws by Lonnegren, who was fouled attempting a 3-pointer.
A pair of free throws by Gant gave the Golden Eagles a 65-60 lead with 54 seconds left, but Bocian hit a 3-pointer to make it 65-63.
Donte Bell made one free throw to make it 66-63 before a lay-up by Graves cut the lead to 66-65 with 18 seconds to go.
Dwayne Jones missed two free throws, but
Leland Jones batted the second one to Gant, who was fouled and made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining. Without timeouts, Chico State quickly moved the ball upcourt and Graves was able to bank in the game-tying 3-pointer.
Chico State scored the first four points of the overtime and led 74-70 with 3:08 to go after a basket by Graves. A Gant lay-up and two later free throws by Gant tied it at 74-74 and the Wildcats got the fortuitous bounce for Graves' game-winner with eight seconds left.
Cal State L.A. will play its final home game of the season on Saturday night against Cal State Stanislaus. The Golden Eagles will honor their four seniors – Bell, Gant, Hart and Mark – in pre-game ceremonies.
