LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team came up big down the stretch to keep its unblemished record in California Collegiate Athletic Association play.

The Golden Eagles closed the game with a 15-5 run to beat San Francisco State, 78-71, Friday night in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (8-1, 5-0 CCAA) stretched its winning streak to six games and beat the team that knocked it out of the CCAA Championship Tournament a year ago.

Quinton Watkins had another big game for the Golden Eagles, pouring in a game-high 26 points. He was an electric 9-of-12 from the field and knocked down four big 3-pointers, including a go-ahead 3-pointer that broke a 68-68 tie with 2:20 to go. He also hit a pair of free throws to stretch the Golden Eagle advantage to stretch the lead to 73-68 with just over one minute to play.

James Tillman also had a big game, contributing a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double. Davon Potts had 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers and Joshua Munzon had 11 points, including three free throws in the final minute that put the game out of reach.

San Francisco State (5-3, 3-2 CCAA) was led by Will Overton, Jr., who had 25 points, four rebounds and three assists. Nefi Perdomo, who came into the game trailing only Watkins among the CCAA scoring leaders, had 14 points.

Cal State L.A. shot 48.1 percent for the game (26-of-54) and was an efficient 13-of-23 in the second half (56.5 percent). The Golden Eagles were 6-of-13 from behind the 3-point arc and hit five of eight attempts in the second half.

San Francisco State shot just 39.3 percent (24-of-61) and was 10-of-25 from behind the arc.

Cal State L.A. was 20-of-26 from the free-throw line, including 17-of-20 in the second half. San Francisco State was 13-of-19.

The Golden Eagles trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half, but closed the margin to 35-30 by halftime and then opened the second half with a 10-0 run to turn things around.

The Gators had their best stretch in the first half when they used a 16-2 run to take a 29-19 lead. Cal State L.A. cut that lead in half by halftime.

The Golden Eagles then got a quick 10-0 run to start the second half to take the lead. Watkins hit a 3-pointer to start it and a three-point play by Tillman after a steal by Watkins pushed the Golden Eagles ahead. Another basket by Watkins and a layup by Jordan Mitchell gave Cal State L.A. a 40-35 edge with 17 minutes to play.

Cal State L.A. took its biggest lead of the game, 46-38, after a layup by Duce Zaid with 14:20 to go, but the Gators went on a 12-0 run to take a 48-46 lead with 9:40 to go.

A 3-pointer by Potts gave the Golden Eagles a 53-48 lead, but the Gators responded and took a 59-55 lead after a three-point play by Overton. A tip-in by Brandon Tatum gave the Gators a 61-57 lead, but Watkins promptly took care of that. He hit a 3-pointer to make it 61-60 and Tillman tied it with a free throw with 4:20 to go.

A 3-pointer by Overton gave the Gators a 66-63 lead, but Watkins hit a pair of free throws to make it 66-65 and then hit the go-ahead 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles a 68-66 lead. A pair of Overton free throws tied it again, but Watkins hit another 3-pointer to give Cal State L.A. the lead for good, 71-68.

The Golden Eagle defense took it from there, coming up with three consecutive stops to set up two free throws for Watkins and three for Munzon that made it 76-68 with 30 seconds left.

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Sonoma State.