Box Score POMONA -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team put itself in position for a big California Collegiate Athletic Association victory Saturday night, but the Golden Eagles were unable to close the deal.

The Golden Eagles overcame a slow start and surged to a seven-point lead with 12 minutes to go, but Cal Poly Pomona rallied for a 56-47 victory in Kellogg Gym. Cal State L.A. (14-10, 11-9 CCAA) falls into fifth place in the CCAA, one game back of fourth-place Cal State Stanislaus and one game ahead of UC San Diego and San Francisco State with two conference games remaining. The top six teams will qualify for the CCAA Championship Tournament.

Quinton Watkins had a game-high 17 points for the Golden Eagles and led their strong run early in the second half that gave them the lead. Duce Zaid just missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds, while James Tillman had eight points and seven rebounds.

Jordan Faison had 15 points for Cal Poly Pomona (20-4, 18-2 CCAA), which remains in a first-place tie with Cal State San Bernardino for the conference lead. DeRonn Scott had 11 points.

The game was a defensive struggle throughout with both teams struggling to score points consistently. Cal State L.A. shot just 30 percent (15-of-50), while Cal Poly Pomona was only slightly better at 36.7 percent (21-of-58). The Golden Eagles were 4-of-15 from 3-point range, while the Broncos were just 1-of-12. The struggles extended to the free-throw line, where Cal State L.A. was just 13-of-23 and Cal Poly Pomona was just 13-of-25.

The rebounding battle was close with the Broncos holding a 43-41 advantage, but the Golden Eagles committed 18 turnovers to only 12 for the Broncos.

The Golden Eagles got off to a slow start and trailed, 14-5, midway through the opening half. Cal State L.A., though, went on a 13-0 run to grab an 18-14 lead. Tillman started the run with a layup, Watkins followed with a layup and Davon Potts hit a 3-pointer to make it 14-12. Tillman tied the game with a layup, Watkins gave the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game with a free throw and Potts hit another 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles an 18-14 lead.

Two free throws by Watkins gave the Golden Eagles their final lead of the first half, 21-20, and Cal State L.A. trailed, 23-21, at halftime.

The Golden Eagles started well in the second half and a Watkins 3-pointer gave Cal State L.A. its first lead of the second half, 28-27. Zaid made a layup to stretch the lead to 30-27, a 3-pointer by Watkins gave the Golden Eagles a 35-29 lead and an offensive rebound and basket by Jordan Mitchell gave Cal State L.A. its biggest lead of the game, 38-31, with 12:20 to go.

Cal Poly Pomona scored the next eight points to take a 39-38 lead before an offensive rebound and basket by Mitchell gave the Golden Eagles their final lead of the night, 40-39, with 10:25 to play.

Two free throws by Tillman kept the margin at just one point, 43-42, with seven minutes to go, but the Golden Eagles didn't score again until a layup by Xavier Jones made it 51-44 with three minutes to go.

Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a home game against UC San Diego in the Eagles Nest as part of Homecoming Week.