Box Score LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team made sure it was going to hang on to this lead thanks to a spectacularly-efficient second-half performance.
 
The Golden Eagles saw an 18-point lead whittled to six points by halftime, but shot a sizzling 77.8 percent in the second half to beat Sonoma State, 66-56, Saturday in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (14-8, 11-7 CCAA) pulled into a third-place tie with San Francisco State by sweeping its final home weekend of the season.
 
Quinton Watkins had a strong game for the Golden Eagles, pouring in a game-high 19 points and knocking down four big 3-pointers in seven tries. Julian Camper had 14 points and six rebounds, while James Tillman had 14 points, four rebounds and three assists. He also knocked down a pair of 3-pointers.
 
Will Olsem led the Seawolves with 15 points, all coming on five 3-point shots in nine tries. Patrick Scott had 14 points.
 
Cal State L.A. controlled the paint and had a 34-25 rebounding edge. Jordan Richard led the way with 10 rebounds to go along with his nine points. Both teams had 20 turnovers.
 
Cal State L.A. shot 54.5 percent for the game (24-of-44), but made an amazing 14-of-18 in the second half (77.8 percent), including three of its four 3-point tries. Sonoma State shot 43.4 percent (23-of-53) and made seven of 21 tries from 3-point range.
 
The Golden Eagles roared to a 21-3 lead less than 10 minutes into the game, only to see the Seawolves cut the advantage to six points by halftime and then take a brief 34-33 lead with 15:30 left in the game.
 
Cal State L.A., though, broke free of a 36-36 tie with a game-changing 11-1 run and led by at least seven points the rest of the game.
 
The Golden Eagles scored the first seven points of the game on a layup by Camper, a 3-pointer by Watkins and an offensive rebound and basket by Tillman and, after a 3-pointer by Olsem, scored the next 14 points to take a 21-3 lead. Watkins started the run with a layup after a steal by Tillman, Tillman hit a 3-pointer, Camper followed with two free throws, Tillman knocked down another 3-pointer, Tillman had an offensive rebound and dunk and Watkins scored on a layup with an assist from Tillman.
 
The Seawolves still trailed 25-7 after a layup by Trimble with nine minutes left  in the half, but closed the period on a 14-2 run and got to within six points after a late 3-pointer by Olsem.
 
After a steal by Ryan Stanley led to a dunk by Scott, the Seawolves grabbed their only lead of the game, 34-33, with 15:36 to go. The Golden Eagles regained the lead moments later on a layup by Tillman and never trailed again. The game was tied for the only time at 36-36, but a jumper by Richard put the Golden Eagles ahead for good.
 
A free throw by Justin Herold made it 38-37, but the Golden Eagles scored the next nine points on a layup by Camper, a 3-pointer by Watkins, a layup by Camper and a layup by Solomon Singer to take a 47-37 lead with 10:05 to go.
 
The Seawolves were able to close to within eight points, but a pair of free throws by Watkins pushed the lead back to 59-49 with 2:26 to go and the Golden Eagles led by at least nine points the rest of the way.
 
Cal State L.A. honored its three seniors – Willie Trimble, Cheyanne Alcala and Jordan Richard – in pregame ceremonies.
 
Cal State L.A. will play its final four games of the regular season on the road, beginning with a game at Cal State Stanislaus on Friday.