LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team ran into a Cal State Monterey Bay squad that seemingly wouldn't miss Saturday night in the Eagles Nest.
 
The Golden Eagles built a 13-point first-half lead, only to see the Otters slice the deficit to one point by halftime and then go on to a 71-66 California Collegiate Athletic Association victory. Cal State Monterey Bay shot a sizzling 68.2 percent in the second half (15-of-22) and made 13-of-16 free throws.
 
That was simply too much for Cal State L.A., even though the Golden Eagles shot 56.7 percent in the second half (17-of-30), but made only 4-of-7 from the free-throw line.
 
Joel Brokenbrough scored a team-high 13 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Cal State L.A. (9-13, 7-11 CCAA), while David Hall and LaBradford Franklin scored 12 points each. Joshua Munzon had 10 points and five rebounds.
 
Alex Fertig had 16 points and seven rebounds to lead Cal State Monterey Bay (12-12, 8-10 CCAA). Even Zeller had 15 points, while Greg Anderson had 12 points.
 
Cal State L.A. shot 44.8 percent for the game (26-of-58) and was 4-of-13 from 3-point range. Cal State Monterey Bay shot 54.3 percent for the game (25-of-46) and was 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Cal State L.A. was 10-of-13 from the line, while Cal State Monterey Bay was 19-of-24.
 
Both teams had 16 turnovers and Cal State L.A. had a 30-28 rebounding edge.
 
The Golden Eagles started well and went on a 13-0 run to break a 12-12 tie. Franklin converted a three-point play to start the run and Brokenbrough and Hall followed with layups to make it 19-12. Munzon then hit a 3-pointer and Hall converted a three-point play to stretch the lead to 25-12.
 
The Golden Eagles, though, couldn't hold the lead and Cal State Monterey Bay closed the half on a 14-2 run to make it 27-26 at halftime.
 
The Golden Eagles got layups by Andre McPhail and Brokenbrough to take a 37-32 lead early in the second half, but Cal State Monterey Bay went on a 9-2 run to take a 41-39 lead. Franklin regained the lead for the Golden Eagles on a 3-pointer and then gave Cal State L.A. its final lead at 44-43 with an offensive rebound and basket with 11:33 to go. Cal State Monterey Bay went on a 13-2 run to take a 56-46 lead with 7:38 to go and never trailed again.
 
A three-point play by Chris Martin and a layup by McPhail pulled the Golden Eagles to within 68-66 with 12 seconds to play, but Cal State Monterey Bay was 3-of-4 from the free throw line down the stretch to stretch the final margin.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a game at Cal Poly Pomona.