Box Score ROHNERT PARK -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team came up with the big plays down the stretch in its first meeting with Sonoma State last month, but the Golden Eagles were unable to duplicate that effort on Friday in the second meeting.
The Golden Eagles surrendered a go-ahead 3-pointer to the Seawolves with 1:20 remaining and were unable to recover in a disappointing 68-64 California Collegiate Athletic Association loss in The Wolves' Den. Cal State L.A. (12-7, 9-6 CCAA) had a two-game winning streak snapped and lost its fifth straight decision onthe road.
The loss was a costly one for the Golden Eagles, who remain in a fourth-place tie with Cal State Stanislaus, one game back of Chico State. The Warriors and Wildcats also lost on Friday.
Quinton Watkins had 19 points for the Golden Eagles, while
Duce Zaid had 18 points and
James Tillman had 13 points.
James Davis had 21 points for Sonoma State (4-15, 3-12 CCAA), while Steve Lackey had 18 points. Mike Harris had the biggest shot of the game, the 3-pointer with 1:20 remaining that erased a 64-63 Cal State L.A. lead.
In the first meeting in the Eagles Nest on Jan. 4, the Golden Eagles scored the last seven points in the final minute of the game to pull out a 59-57 win. Those late heroics were missing on Friday.
Cal State L.A. shot 41.5 percent for the game (22-of-52), while Sonoma State shot 41.3 percent (19-of-46). The Golden Eagles were 5-of-16 from behind the 3-point arc, while Sonoma State was 7-of-10. The Golden Eagles were 15-of-18 from the free-throw line (83.3 percent), while Sonoma State was 23-of-32).
Cal State L.A. was out-rebounded, 32-27, although the Golden Eagles fared much better on the boards in the second half. The Golden Eagles were out-rebounded, 20-8, in the first half.
The Golden Eagles allowed the first five points of the game, but tied it at 11-11 after a 3-pointer by Watkins and took a 14-13 lead after a 3-pointer by
Davon Potts. The first half was tight from that point on with neither team able to build more than a four-point lead. The Golden Eagles trailed, 28-25, late in the half, but a layup by Tillman and a free throw by Watkins tied it at halftime.
Cal State L.A. used a 13-3 run to extend a 37-36 lead to their biggest advantage of the game, 50-39, with 11:26 to go. Zaid hit four free throws to start the run and a basket by Watkins followed by two free throws by Watkins made it 45-38.
Joshua Munzon made a basket to extend the lead to 47-39 and Zaid knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles an 11-point lead.
Sonoma State, though, responded with a 15-3 run to take a 54-53 lead following three free throws by Davis with 6:53 remaining.
A three-point play by Watkins gave the Golden Eagles a 62-59 lead with 3:22 remaining and, after the Seawolves scored four straight points, a basket by Tillman gave the Golden Eagles a 64-63 lead with 1:48 to go. Harris then gave the Seawolves the lead for good with his 3-pointer with 1:20 to go.
The Golden Eagles had their chances down the stretch. Cal State L.A. missed a pair of shots and committed a turnover before the Seawolves missed all three of their free-throw attempts with nine seconds to go. The Golden Eagles had a look at a game-tying shot miss with two seconds to go and Sonoma State hit two free throws to put the game out of reach.
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday night with a road game at San Francisco State.
