Box Score LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team got back to its winning ways Friday night with a fast-paced California Collegiate Athletic Association win over Cal State East Bay.

The Golden Eagles broke out of a 33-33 halftime tie with a 56-point second half and beat the Pioneers, 89-79, in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (11-6, 8-5 CCAA) struggled offensively last week on the road, but came up with a big offensive showing at home on Friday.

Quinton Watkins had a game-high 26 points for the Golden Eagles, while Duce Zaid had 24 points. Xavier Jones had a season-high 15 points and was an efficient 6-for-7 from the floor, while James Tillman had 15 points, 13 of them in the second half.

Nick Grieves had 19 points to lead Cal State East Bay (7-12, 4-9 CCAA), while Jacari Whitfield had 16 points and Gabe Kindred had 14 points.

The Golden Eagles led for most of the game, but the Pioneers rallied from a seven-point second-half deficit to tie it at 66-66 on a 3-pointer by Whitfield with 6:30 to go. Tillman, though, scored back-to-back baskets and Watkins hit a pair of free throws to key a 6-0 run and give the Golden Eagles the lead for good.

A three-point play by Jones gave the Golden Eagles an eight-point lead at 80-72 with 2:30 remaining and Cal State L.A. kept at least a five-point advantage the rest of the way. After Cal State East Bay pulled to within five at 82-77 in the final minute, a pair of free throws by Davon Potts, a layup by Watkins and a dunk by Tillman after a steal by Solomon Singer extended the advantage.



Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Cal State Monterey Bay at 7:30 p.m.