Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team led from start to finish and finally enjoyed a positive Saturday night result in California Collegiate Athletic Association play.
 
The Golden Eagles had been denied weekend sweeps with losses the past three Saturdays, but posted its second win in as many nights with a 75-56 win over Cal State Monterey Bay in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (13-5, 9-5 CCAA) kept pace in the tightly-packed conference race. The Golden Eagles are now tied for third with Chico State, Cal State San Bernardino and Humboldt State, just one game back of co-leaders Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
Cal State L.A. scored the first 11 points of the game and held a 40-20 lead at halftime. The Golden Eagles shot 53.8 percent for the game and limited Cal State Monterey Bay (2-16, 1-13 CCAA) to just 39 percent shooting. The Golden Eagles allowed only four first-half baskets while building their big early lead.
 
Quinton Watkins had 19 points to lead a balanced scoring attack. Chris Robinson had 12 points and five steals and Bussey Ellis and Marc Wilson contributed 11 points each.
 
James Thomas had 15 points off the bench to lead Cal State Monterey Bay. James Albert had 11 points, while Derrick Anderson and Brandon Ward had 10 points each.
 
Cal State L.A. was out-rebounded by Cal State Monterey Bay, 31-24, but forced 30 turnovers while committing only 14. The Golden Eagles had 17 steals, including five by Robinson and three by Wilson. Fourteen of the 17 steals came in the first half.
 
Leland Jones had nine points for the Golden Eagles, while Ryan Wetherell had eight points.
 
Watkins opened the scoring with a three-point play and a basket by Jones and six straight points by Robinson made it 11-0 just four minutes into the game. Albert scored on a three-point play to get the Otters on the board. A pair of free throws by Anderson kept the score on 16-8, but the Golden Eagles responded with a 20-7 run to open up a 36-15 advantage late in the half. A jumper by Wilson gave the Golden Eagles a 38-17 edge and, after a 3-pointer by Thomas, a layup by Wetherell made it 40-20 at halftime.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay opened the second half strongly and used a quick 7-2 run to carve the lead to 42-27 just four minutes into the half. A 3-pointer by Thomas reduced the deficit to 12 points, 46-34, with 14:20 remaining, but that was as close as the Otters would get. Cal State L.A. went on a 10-0 run that featured back-to-back 3-pointers from Ellis and a three-point play by Watkins to make it 56-34 with 10:30 to go.
 
Five quick points by Wilson pushed the lead up to 64-41 with seven minutes to go and the Golden Eagles led comfortably the rest of the way.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a road game at UC San Diego.