LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team finally got that elusive first victory and the Golden Eagles now have some evidence of their recent improvement.
 
The Golden Eagles, who lost to Northwest Nazarene in Idaho last month, turned the tables on the Crusaders on Monday in a 70-57 victory in the Eagles Nest. Cal State LA (1-8) turned in an outstanding defensive effort to avenge its earlier 80-75 loss to Northwest Nazarene (4-3).
 
Joshua Munzon had 17 points and Tahron Morrison had 14 points to lead the way for the Golden Eagles, but it was the defense that carried the day. The Golden Eagles held Northwest Nazarene to just 30 percent shooting and just 26 percent from 3-point range.
 
Cal State LA also struggled from distance and made only 1-of-13 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles, though, were effective driving to the basket and scoring in the paint. The Golden Eagles were 28-of-49 from inside the 3-point arc.
 
Cal State LA struggled from the free-throw line and made only 11-of-24. Northwest Nazarene was much better, hitting 21-of-24. Bouna N'Diaye was 11-of-12 and led all scorers with 22 points.
 
The Golden Eagle defense did a much better job on Northwest Nazarene's leading scorer, Mike Wright, who poured in 28 points in the first meeting between the two programs. He was harassed into a 1-of-12 shooting performance on Monday and finished with seven points.
 
Duce Zaid and Dushon Carter had eight points each for Cal State LA, while Andre McPhail had seven points and five rebounds and Collin Johnson and Joel Brokenbrough had six points each.
 
Cal State LA had a 43-37 rebounding edge and forced 21 turnovers while committing only 12. Munzon had three of the Golden Eagles' 10 steals.
 
Cal State LA scored the first 10 points of the game and never trailed. The Golden Eagles led 14-2 after eight minutes and never led by less than seven points the rest of the way. Cal State LA led 33-18 at halftime and had leads as large as 18 points in the second half. Northwest Nazarene pulled to within nine points on three occasions in the second half, but couldn't get any closer.
 
After a pair of  free throws by Wright made it 54-45 with 4:27 to go, Johnson scored on a layup and Munzon made a steal and dunk to start a 7-0 run that boosted the lead back to 61-45 with 3:27 remaining. Cal State LA led comfortably the rest of the way.
 
Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with a conference home game against Cal State San Bernardino at 7:30 p.m.