Box Score

CHICO -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team put an emphatic end to its three-game losing streak with one of its most complete victories of the year Saturday night.

The Golden Eagles broke the game early with a 26-5 first-half run and beat Chico State, 71-53, Saturday night in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in Acker Gymnasium. Cal State L.A. (12-6, 8-6) climbed back into fifth place in the conference with the win.

Cal State L.A. took control of the game by holding Chico State without a basket for the final 10:57 of the first half. The Golden Eagles erased a 12-10 deficit and stormed to a 36-17 halftime lead. Cal State L.A. limited the Wildcats (10-8, 6-8 CCAA) to just five first-half baskets and enjoyed a hefty 28-13 rebounding edge at the break.

Bussey Ellis hit a 3-pointer to open the scoring in the second half and the Golden Eagles held leads larger than 20 points for most of the remainder of the game. Cal State L.A. led by as many as 26 points in the second half and enjoyed their largest margin of victory in a conference game this season.

Cal State L.A. completed a season sweep of Chico State in the process.

Carl Hoffman led the way with a career-high 20 points. He hit 9-of-12 field-goal attempts and both his free-throw tries to eclipse his previous high of 19 points set last year against Humboldt State. Franklin Session had 16 points and seven rebounds, Ellis had 10 points and seven rebounds, Chris Robinson had nine points and seven rebounds and David Norris just missed a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds.

Cal State L.A. shot 46.9 percent for the game (30-of-64) and limited Chico State to just 32 percent (16-of-50). The Golden Eagles were also 5-of-13 from behind the 3-point arc, while the Wildcats were just 2-of-10. Cal State L.A. also finished the game with a 44-33 rebounding edge and forced 14 turnovers while committing only 11.

The game turned quickly in the Golden Eagles' favor. After trailing, 12-10, the Golden Eagles scored 15 straight points to take a 25-12 edge. Robinson hit a pair of free throws to tie it and Hoffman scored six straight points to give Cal State L.A. the lead. Ellis hit a 3-pointer to continue the run, a steal by Session led to a layup by Robinson and a basket by Ozzie Morrison gave the Golden Eagles the 25-12 lead.

After Chico State scored on a pair of free throws, Session scored in the lane and then made a steal and layup and Robinson hit a 3-pointer to boost the lead to 32-14. A layup by Robinson just before the buzzer gave the Golden Eagles a 36-17 halftime edge.

Chico State got the deficit down to 16 points in the second half, but Cal State L.A. stopped the comeback and eventually built a 61-35 lead after a basket by Session with 6:13 remaining.

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