Box Score LA JOLLA -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team came up with some big plays when it needed them most Friday night in a California Collegiate Athletic Association battle Friday night against UC San Diego.

The Golden Eagles overcame a 10-point first-half deficit and limited the Tritons to just 32 percent shooting in a 61-54 victory Friday in RIMAC Arena. Cal State L.A. (2-2, 1-1 CCAA) posted its first conference win by putting the defensive clamps on the Tritons down the stretch. Cal State L.A. clung to a 52-50 lead with a little more than three minutes left, but allowed only four points the rest of the way.

Cal State L.A. got 16 points and seven rebounds from Joshua Munzon and 16 points and six rebounds from James Tillman. Jordan Richard had eight points, nine rebounds and eight blocks in the win.

UC San Diego (1-4, 0-2 CCAA) got a game-high 18 points from James McCann and 15 points from Tyler McGrath.

Cal State L.A. shot 41.7 percent from the floor (20-of-48) and knocked down three 3-pointers in 13 attempts. The Golden Eagles were also 18-of-30 from the free-throw line and hit seven free throws in nine tries down the stretch to secure the victory.

UC San Diego shot just 32.2 percent (19-of-59), but hit all eight free-throw tries.

The Golden Eagles enjoyed a 41-35 rebounding edge, but also committed 15 turnovers to 13 for the Tritons.

Trevor Wiseman had eight points and seven rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Willie Trimble had six points, including a pair of free throws in the waning seconds to complete the scoring.

Cal State L.A. fell behind by as many as 10 points in the first half, the final time at 22-12. Quinton Watkins hit a 3-pointer to jump-start the Golden Eagles and Cal State L.A. used a 13-0 run to grab a 28-24 lead. The Golden Eagles settled for a 28-27 halftime lead.

The second half was tight throughout with neither team able to generate a large lead. Cheyanne Alcala hit a 3-pointer to bring the Golden Eagles to a 39-39 tie, a three-point play by Wiseman brought the Golden Eagles to within one at 44-43 and a 3-pointer by Munzon gave them the lead at 46-44 with 7:22 to go. Richard followed with a dunk to make it 48-44 and Cal State L.A. led the rest of the way.

After UC San Diego sliced the deficit to 52-50, Tillman scored on a layup and Tillman and Munzon hit free throws to extend the lead to 56-50. A free throw by Watkins made it 57-52 and the Golden Eagles got a pair of free throws each by Munzon and Trimble to put the game away.

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