Box Score
LA JOLLA -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team used another second-half rally to put itself in position for another big California Collegiate Athletic Association road win, only to see UC San Diego prevail in a struggle.
The Golden Eagles held leads near the end of regulation and the first overtime, but UC San Diego stood strong and pulled out a 76-73 double-overtime win Thursday in RIMAC Arena. Cal State L.A. (10-3, 6-3 CCAA) had a four-game winning streak snapped, while UC San Diego (9-6, 4-5 CCAA) improved to 4-1 at home this season.
Cal State L.A. shot 40 percent (27-of-67) for the game, while UC San Diego shot 38.5 percent. The Golden Eagles, though, made only 3-of-14 attempts in the two overtime periods, while the Tritons were 4-of-11.
UC San Diego had a 56-38 rebounding edge and made 22-of-37 free throws. Cal State L.A. was 14-of-25 from the line.
David Norris had 24 points and eight rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while
Franklin Session had 20 points and nine rebounds.
Carl Hoffman had 12 points and nine rebounds and
Chris Robinson had 10 points and five rebounds.
Christian Hatch had a game-high 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Tritons, while Casey Ryan had 12 points and 20 rebounds. Justin Brue had 17 points.
The Golden Eagles trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half, but a 3-pointer by Session closed it to 35-27 at halftime.
Cal State L.A. then fell behind by as many as 10 points early in the second half before steadily chipping away at the UC San Diego lead. The Golden Eagles still trailed by five points, 48-43, with 10 minutes to go before Norris scored eight straight points -- six on consecutive 3-pointers -- to give the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game, 51-48.
Norris made two free throws to put the Golden Eagles ahead, 59-57, but a basket by Hatch with one minute left sent the game into overtime. Both teams missed shots to break the tie in the final minute of regulation.
Cal State L.A. took a 63-61 lead on a basket by Session in the first overtime and then built a 66-61 lead after Session made three of four free-throw attempts. He made two straight to give the Golden Eagles a five-point edge with 1:18 left.
Brue made a basket with 57 seconds remaining and then, after a Cal State L.A. miss, Tyler McGrath hit a 3-pointer to tie it with six seconds left to send it to a second overtime.
A layup by Hoffman gave the Golden Eagles their last lead at 68-66, but UC San Diego scored the next five points to take the lead for good. A pair of free throws by Session made it 72-71 with 1:14 left, but Hatch hit two free throws to boost the lead back to three points. After a Golden Eagle miss, the Tritons made another free throw to make it 75-71. Robinson made a layup with 22 seconds remaining to make it 75-73 and, after two missed free throws by the Tritons, the Golden Eagles had a game-tying attempt miss.
UC San Diego hit one of two free throws with three seconds remaining and a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer missed.
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a game at Cal State East Bay.
