Box Score

SEASIDE -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team made a strong showing in the second half and it resulted in a big California Collegiate Athletic Association victory.

The Golden Eagles broke free of a 34-34 halftime tie and pulled away for a 69-62 win over Cal State Monterey Bay Friday in the Otter Sports Center. Cal State L.A. (9-2, 5-2 CCAA) won its third straight game after surviving a tough battle with the Otters (4-7, 2-5 CCAA).

Cal State L.A. had two of its starters record double-doubles. Franklin Session had 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Leland Jones had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Chris Robinson had 13 points, while Carl Hoffman had 12 points. David Norris had eight points and nine rebounds. Bussey Ellis had five points, six rebounds and five assists.

Davion Berry had a game-high 19 points for the Otters, while Darroll Phillips added 12 points.

The Golden Eagles won despite making just 13 of their 29 free-throw attempts. Cal State L.A. was just 6-of-19 from the free-throw line in the first half. The Golden Eagles were 7-of-10 from the line in the second half and got two free throws each from Norris and Session to put the game away.

Cal State L.A. had a big 55-33 rebounding edge. The Golden Eagles shot 41.9 percent from the floor (26-of-62), while limiting Cal State Monterey Bay to just 32.8 percent shooting (19-of-58).

The Golden Eagles got off to a quick start, but could never open up a big lead in the first half because of their free-throw shooting woes.

Robinson scored seven quick points to help the Golden Eagles take an 8-4 edge and a 3-pointer by Trevor Hopkins made it 16-11 and gave Cal State L.A. its biggest lead of the first half. Cal State Monterey Bay, though, rebounded and opened up a 32-28 lead after a three-point play by Jordan Garrett. A late layup by Session tied the game at halftime, 34-34.

The game was tied one more time at 36-36 before the Golden Eagles went on an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. Session scored on a pair of layups to start the run, while Robinson and Jones followed with baskets.

The Golden Eagles maintained an eight-point edge after a 3-pointer by Norris with 7:41 to go and still led by eight points, 58-50, after a basket by Hoffman with 5:35 left.

A Brandon Ward 3-pointer got the Otters to within two points at 62-60, but Jones scored on a layup off an assist by Robinson to make it 62-58. A pair of free throws by Berry again brought the Otters to within two points at 62-60, but Norris knocked down a clutch 3-pointer to make it 65-60 with 37 seconds left.

Norris and Session both hit a pair of free throws in the final 16 seconds to put the game away.

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a game at San Francisco State.