Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team didn't just get a monkey off its back Friday night, the Golden Eagles shook off a gorilla.

 

The Golden Eagles stormed back from a 10-point halftime deficit and then held on down the stretch for a 59-57 win over Cal State San Bernardino in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (4-1, 1-1 CCAA) snapped a 24-game losing streak to the Coyotes that dated back to 1999.

 

Cal State L.A. used a strong second half surge to take an eight-point lead with 4:39 to play and then survived some anxious moments down the stretch to hold off the Coyotes (1-2, 0-1 CCAA).

 

The Coyotes pulled to within two points at 59-57 with 2:17 left, but neither team was able to score for the remainder of the game. After a pair of missed free throws, the Coyotes got the ball back for a final possession, but a 3-pointer by Robbie Robinson under duress was off the mark and the Golden Eagles had the win.

 

Cal State L.A. beat Cal State San Bernardino for the first time since a 54-46 win over the Coyotes on Jan. 9, 1999.

 

Cal State L.A. had four players score in double figures and got all its scoring from its five starters. Ryan Wetherell had 15 points to lead the way, while David Norris had an impressive 14-point, 14-rebound double-double.

 

Chris Robinson scored 12 points – all in the second half – while Leland Jones had 10 points and five rebounds. Franklin Session had eight points, 10 rebounds and three steals, two of which led to crowd-pleasing slam dunks in the second half.

 

Aaron Hill scored 14 points to lead a balanced Cal State San Bernardino attack. The Coyotes got points from all 10 players who saw action on Friday.

 

Cal State L.A. shot 36.8 percent for the game, while limiting the Coyotes to just 32.7 percent. The Golden Eagles' defense held Cal State San Bernardino to just five second-half baskets while outscoring the Coyotes, 34-22, in the second half.

 

Cal State L.A. held a 46-36 rebounding edge and forced 16 turnovers, while committing 14.

 

The Golden Eagles started well and opened up a quick 8-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game. Cal State San Bernardino fought back and moved out to a 24-19 lead when a 3-pointer by Corey Gaston completed a 22-11 surge. Cal State L.A. closed to within one at 26-25 after a jumper by Norris, but the Coyotes completed the first half with a 9-0 run to take a 35-25 lead at halftime. A 3-pointer by Ryan Kinney and a basket by Sidney Hall in the final minute completed the run.

 

The game turned with a dramatic run in the second half. Cal State L.A. outscored Cal State San Bernardino, 23-6, to open up a 48-41 lead with 11 minutes to play. The Golden Eagles completed the run with an 8-0 surge that was started by a layup by Wetherell, a steal and dunk by Session, a basket by Norris off a pass from Session and a pair of free throws by Robinson.

 

The Golden Eagles led the rest of the way, but it wasn't easy. The Coyotes sliced the lead to two points, 50-48, with 7:27 to play after a 3-pointer by Kinney, but a free throw by Jones, a three-point play by Robinson and a pair of free throws by Jones built the lead back to eight points, 58-50, with 4:39 to go.

 

A free throw by Jones made it 59-52 with 3:56 remaining, but the Golden Eagles didn't score again. David Jefferson hit a free throw, Hill made a layup and David Jefferson hit two free throws to account for the final scoring.

 

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a game against defending national champion Cal Poly Pomona.