Box Score LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team dropped an absolute heartbreaker Friday night in the Eagles Nest.
 
The Golden Eagles had a big victory against Cal State San Bernardino in its grasp, only to see the Coyotes score on a tip-in at the buzzer to beat Cal State L.A., 67-66, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game.
 
Making the loss even tougher to take for the Golden Eagles was a costly lane violation that wiped out a made free throw by James Tillman on the front end of a one-and-one with 11 seconds to go. The Golden Eagle defense was tenacious at the other end, forcing a contested miss by Cal State San Bernardino's Joshua Gouch. Alexander, though, was able to tip the rebound in just before the buzzer sounded to give the Coyotes an unlikely victory.
 
Cal State L.A. (10-7, 7-6 CCAA), which came into the week with the No. 5 defense in the country, had held Cal State San Bernardino (13-3, 11-2 CCAA) without a basket for the final six minutes until Alexander's tip at the buzzer.
 
After a 3-pointer by Joshua Munzon gave Cal State L.A. a 66-64 lead with 2:30 to go, both teams struggled to score against inspired defensive play. Alexander hit a free throw to make it 66-65 with 1:30 to go. The Golden Eagles missed the front end of a one-and-one with 40 seconds to go, but Jordan Richard blocked a shot and a contested shot by Gouch was missed before Tillman rebounded the ball and was fouled with 11 seconds remaining.
 
Tillman made his free throw, but a Golden Eagle committed a lane violation, giving the Coyotes their final possession.
 
Alexander made sure it wasn't all for naught.
 
Tillman had a big game for Cal State L.A. with a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double. Julian Camper also had a big game with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Willie Trimble had 11 points.
 
Brian Goins had 20 points to lead the Coyotes, while Alexander finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Jamari Simmons added 12 points.
 
Cal State L.A. shot 47.4 percent from the floor (27-of-57) and held Cal State San Bernardino to just 36.1 percent (22-of-61). The Coyotes knocked down nine 3-pointers, while Cal State L.A. was 4-of-10.
 
The Coyotes were an efficient 14-of-17 from the free-throw line, while the Golden Eagles were only 8-of-15. The Golden Eagles had a 42-34 rebounding edge, but committed 14 turnovers to just nine for the Coyotes.
 
The game was hotly-contested throughout and neither team was able to build a double-digit lead. Cal State San Bernardino's biggest lead was six points at 24-18 following a pair of free throws by Alexander. The Golden Eagles surged back and opened up a 42-37 lead after a 3-pointer by Wilson and settled for a 42-39 halftime lead.
 
The Golden Eagles took their biggest lead of the game at 48-39 after scoring the first six points of the second half after layups by Camper, Solomon Singer and Tillman. Cal State San Bernardino responded, though, and tied the game at 53-53 after a 3-pointer by Goins with 12:50 remaining.
 
Alexander hit a pair of free throws to put the Coyotes ahead, 64-63 with 4:20 to go and that lead help up until Munzon's clutch 3-pointer gave the Golden Eagles a 66-64 edge with 2:30 to play.
 
That advantage lasted until Alexander's buzzer-beater.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday night with a home game against UC San Diego.