Box Score LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team enjoyed a much better outcome on Saturday night thanks to a shooting touch that disappeared the night before.
 
After shooting just 32 percent and missing mightily from the free-throw line in a Friday loss, the Golden Eagles rebounded nicely and beat Cal State Monterey Bay, 75-62, in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (6-4, 3-3 CCAA) built leads as large as 15 points in the first half and was able to keep Cal State Monterey Bay (6-7, 2-4 CCAA) at arm's length the rest of the way.
 
Cal State L.A. shot 44.1 percent for the game, but set the tone in the opening half when the Golden Eagles shot 51.5 percent and knocked down six of 13 tries from behind the arc. On Friday, the Golden Eagles made just one 3-pointer.
 
Joshua Munzon led the way with 20 points, including 10 early in the second half while Cal State L.A. was steadily taking control of the game. James Tillman had 17 points and eight rebounds, Quinton Watkins had 13 points and three rebounds and Willie Trimble had 11 points and five rebounds.
 
Alex Fertig had a game-high 21 points for the Otters. Brandon Ward finished with 10 points.
 
Jordan Richard had another strong defensive game for Cal State L.A., recording 12 rebounds and six blocks, while altering plenty of other attempts in the lane. Cal State L.A. finished with nine blocks in the game. Solomon Singer added six points and six rebounds.
 
The Golden Eagles held Cal State Monterey Bay to just 31.3 percent shooting and the Otters were just 3-of-16 from behind the arc. Cal State L.A. was 7-of-18, getting three from Munzon and two each from Watkins and Trimble.
 
Cal State L.A. also did much better from the free-throw line, making 16-of-25, one night after making just eight of 24. Cal State Monterey Bay was 17-of-22 from the line.
 
The Golden Eagles trailed only once, at 2-0 after a pair of free throws by Ward in the opening minute of the game. A 3-pointer by Munzon gave the Golden Eagles the lead for good. A 3-pointer by Trimble gave the Golden Eagles their first double-digit lead at 21-11 and a 3-pointer by Watkins, two free throws by Richard and a jumper by Trimble pushed the lead to 28-13 with nine minutes still left in the half.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay was able to slice the lead to nine points, but a layup by Tillman gave the Golden Eagles a 43-32 halftime lead.
 
Cal State L.A. was able to withstand several challenges by the Otters in the second half. Cal State Monterey Bay got to within seven points at 45-38, but three straight points by Tillman, a pair of free throws by Munzon and a basket by Watkins pushed the lead back to 14 points, 52-38.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay was still hanging around, down by nine points with 3:30 to go, but a layup by Munzon, a free throw by Tillman and another free throw by Trimble got the lead back to 13 points, 70-57, with 1:30 to play.
 
The lead stayed at 10 or more the rest of the way.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a road game at Sonoma State.