Box Score
ROHNERT PARK -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team made sure there would be no late comeback for Sonoma State this time around.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 12-point halftime lead and never let the Seawolves back into the game in a 79-73 victory in the Wolves' Den Thursday night. Cal State L.A. took a double-digit lead just 11 minutes into the contest and never led by less than eight points until a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by the Seawolves.
Cal State L.A. (14-7, 10-7 CCAA) pulled into a three-way tie for fifth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with Sonoma State (12-9, 10-7 CCAA) and Cal State Dominguez Hills, just two games out of first place.
The Golden Eagles salvaged a season split with the Seawolves and reversed a most frustrating loss earlier this season in the Eagles Nest when Cal State L.A. couldn't hold a 16-point lead in the final five minutes of regulation and lost in overtime.
This time, Cal State L.A. prevented any real Sonoma State runs and maintained comfortable margins throughout.
Cal State L.A. had an effective game offensively and had four players reach double figures in scoring. The Golden Eagles shot 54.7 percent for the game (29-of-53), including 58.6 percent in the first half (17-of-29) when they took control of the game. Sonoma State also shot well, making 49 percent of its shots (24-of-49), including 57.7 percent in the second half (15-of-26).
Quinton Watkins led the balanced Cal State L.A. attack with 18 points, while
Carl Hoffman scored 17 points and made eight of his nine field-goal attempts.
Chris Robinson had 14 points and six rebounds and
Ryan Wetherell had 11 points.
Justin Herold had a game-high 26 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Steven Pratt had 15 points and Will Olsem added 12 points.
Leland Jones also had a strong game for the Golden Eagles, overcoming early foul trouble to score eight points and grab three rebounds.
Marc Wilson added seven points.
Cal State L.A. trailed only once, at 3-2. Jones opened the scoring, but Sonoma State took its only advantage when Olsem hit a 3-pointer. The Golden Eagles responded by scoring the next seven points, all by Robinson, to take the lead for good.
The Golden Eagles scored nine straight points to extend a 17-15 lead to a 26-15 advantage. Watkins started the run with a basket, Wilson added a 3-pointer, Wetherell hit two free throws and Hoffman scored inside to give Cal State L.A. its first double-digit lead.
A three-point play by Wetherell to close the first half gave the Golden Eagles a 43-31 halftime lead.
The Golden Eagles opened the second half with baskets by Jones and Watkins to take a 47-31 edge and a 3-pointer by Watkins gave Cal State L.A. its biggest lead of the game, 50-33, with 17 minutes left.
The Golden Eagles maintained their edge from there. Sonoma State finally pulled to within nine points with 38 seconds left, but a pair of free throws by Wetherell made it 74-63.
Cal State L.A. will return to action with a road game against Humboldt State on Saturday.
