Box Score
SAN BERNARDINO -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team saw another promising late comeback attempt come up just short in California Collegiate Athletic Association action.
One night after falling to UC San Diego by one point, the Golden Eagles dropped another nail-biter, 62-60, to Cal State San Bernardino Saturday night in Coussoulia Arena. Cal State L.A. (13-7, 9-7 CCAA) slipped two games out of first place in the tightly-bunched CCAA.
Cal State San Bernardino (12-7, 11-5 CCAA) is one of four teams tied for the CCAA lead.
Ryan Wetherell had a game-high 20 points for the Golden Eagles, while
Leland Jones had 13 points and four rebounds.
Theron Laudermill had 17 points to lead three Coyotes in double figures. Kwame Alexander had 16 points and eight rebounds and Tre Brewer had 15 points.
Cal State L.A. shot 40.7 percent (22-of-54), while Cal State San Bernardino shot 48.8 percent (21-of-43). The Golden Eagles were just 3-of-16 from 3-point range, while the Coyotes were 4-of-9. Both teams shot well from the free-throw line. Cal State L.A. was 13-of-15 (86.7 percent) and Cal State San Bernardino was 16-of-20 (80 percent). The Coyotes were able to make four straight free throws in the final minute to hold off the Golden Eagles.
Quinton Watkins and
Marc Wilson had eight points each for the Golden Eagles, while
Jordan Richard had six points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
The Golden Eagles started well and opened up a 13-5 lead just seven minutes into the game. The Golden Eagles used a 9-0 run to take that advantage. It started on a basket by Jones, continued on a three-point play by Watkins and concluded with a layup by Wetherell. A pair of free throws by Wilson made it 15-7.
Cal State San Bernardino, though, went on a 14-2 run to regain the lead and the Coyotes held a 32-25 halftime lead.
The Golden Eagles fell behind by as many as nine points in the second half, 46-37, with 12 minutes to go, but made several charges to erase the gap. Wetherell hit a 3-pointer and a steal by
Chris Robinson led to a dunk by Richard that quickly made it 46-42. A basket by Wilson cut the deficit to 48-46 with 6:49 to go and a pair of Wetherell free throws made it 50-48 with five minutes left.
The Coyotes surged to a six-point lead, 58-52, with 2:46 to play when the Golden Eagles made their final move. A free throw by Robinson made it 58-53 and a Jones steal led to a Wetherell layup that made it 58-55 with 1:54 remaining. Another steal, this one by Richard, led to a pair of free throws by Wetherell that brought the Golden Eagles to within one point, 58-57, with 1:19 to go. Jones scored on an offensive rebound and basket to bring the Golden Eagles to within 60-59 with 28 seconds to go, but Cal State San Bernardino hit two more free throws with 14 seconds left.
Jones was fouled and made the first free throw with five seconds remaining, then missed the second on purpose, but time ran out.
Cal State L.A. will return to action with a road game at Sonoma State on Thursday.
