Box Score

CARSON -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team found itself in good position to sweep its regular-season series against Cal State Dominguez Hills until a lengthy second-half drought turned things around.

The Golden Eagles took a nine-point lead in the opening minute of the second half, but then surrendered the next 15 points and never recovered in a 51-49 loss to the Toros Friday in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in the Torodome. Cal State L.A. (8-2, 4-2 CCAA) shot just 28 percent in the second half and also struggled from the free-throw line.

Quinton Watkins scored a team-high 14 points for the Golden Eagles, while Leland Jones had 12 points and eight rebounds. Carl Hoffman had nine points and seven rebounds.

Wayne Andrews led Cal State Dominguez Hills (5-3, 4-2 CCAA) with 11 points and five rebounds. George McGrew and CJ Carter had eight points each for the Toros.

Cal State L.A. shot just 33.3 percent for the game (18-of-54) and was just 7-of-25 in the second half. The Toros shot 34.5 percent for the game (19-of-55).

The Golden Eagles were out-rebounded, 38-33, and forced 14 turnovers while committing 12.

Cal State L.A. struggled from 3-point range, making only 4-of-20 attempts from behind the arc and the Golden Eagles had costly misses at the free-throw line, making only 9-of-17 for the game.

The Golden Eagles started well and used a 13-3 run to erase a 9-8 deficit and take a 21-12 lead. A go-ahead dunk by Jordan Richard started the run, which also included a 3-pointer by Watkins, a basket by Hoffman, a 3-pointer by Bussey Ellis and a three-point play by Hoffman. Cal State L.A. still held a nine-point lead on a basket by Chris Robinson late in the first half, but the Golden Eagles had to settle for a 27-20 halftime lead. Cal State L.A. was only 3-of-8 from the free-throw line in the first half.

A basket by Watkins gave the Golden Eagles a 29-20 lead in the opening minute of the second half, but Cal State Dominguez Hills blanked Cal State L.A. for more than six minutes during a game-changing 15-0 run. A pair of free throws by Jones snapped the streak and a 3-pointer by Ellis brought the Golden Eagles to within one point, 35-34, with 13 minutes remaining.

A free throw by Marc Wilson kept the margin at just two points, 37-35, with 10:44 to go, but the Golden Eagles were held at arm's length the rest of the way. The Golden Eagles faced an eight-point deficit, 43-35, with seven minutes remaining and got to within five points on a 3-pointer by Watkins. The Toros upped their lead to seven points at 49-42, but a pair of free throws by Watkins and a three-point play by Robinson made it 49-47 in the final minute. A pair of free throws by Myron Green gave the Toros a four-point lead at 51-47 and an offensive rebound basket by Jones made it 51-49 in the waning seconds.

Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a home game against Humboldt State in the Eagles Nest.