LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team posted its biggest win of the season with a thrilling finish against No. 5 Cal Poly Pomona.
 
Joshua Munzon scored the Golden Eagles' final 11 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 12 seconds to play that provided the go-ahead points in a 47-45 victory in the Eagles Nest. Cal State LA (3-12, 2-6 CCAA) snapped a four-game losing streak while handing Cal Poly Pomona (14-2, 7-2 CCAA) just its second loss of the season. The Golden Eagles beat the Broncos in the Eagles Nest for a second consecutive season.
 
It was a defensive struggle throughout and points were at a premium. Cal Poly Pomona led by as many as 14 points in the first half and had a 33-23 halftime lead. Cal State LA, though, held the Broncos to only three baskets in the second half and outscored Cal Poly Pomona, 24-12, over the final 20 minutes.
 
Cal Poly Pomona took a 45-44 lead on a 3-pointer by Jordan Faison with 1:23 to go and had a chance to extend the lead before a huge defensive play by Cal State LA's Jonathan Davis, who blocked a layup attempt by Faison, with Duce Zaid collecting the rebound with 39 seconds left.
 
Munzon, who had a game-high 17 points, hit his game-winning 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down from the corner in front of the Cal State LA bench. The Golden Eagles then forced Cal Poly Pomona's final miss – a corner 3-pointer by Barry Bell that was too long – and Munzon corralled the rebound to end the game.
 
Cal State LA shot just 29.8 percent (14-of-47) against the nation's top defense. The Golden Eagles were 6-of-19 from 3-point range. Cal Poly Pomona, though shot just 28 percent (14-of-50) and made only 3-of-25 (12 percent) in the second half. Cal State LA held Cal Poly Pomona without a basket for nearly 13 minutes before Faison's late 3-pointer.
 
Munzon had five rebounds to go along with his 17 points. Dushon Carter had eight points and five assists, while Collins Johnson had six points and five rebounds.
 
Faison had 12 points to lead Cal Poly Pomona, while Barry Bell had eight points and six rebounds.
 
Cal State LA had a 38-34 rebounding edge and committed 15 turnovers to 10 for the Broncos.
 
Cal Poly Pomona led by as many as 14 points in the first half, 33-19, before a pair of free throws by Davis and a steal and layup by Carter made it 33-23 at halftime.
 
Cal State LA then scored the first seven points of the second half thanks to a 3-pointer by Johnson, a pair of free throws by Munzon and a fastbreak layup by Munzon. The Golden Eagles took their first lead of the second half on a 3-pointer by Munzon that made it 39-37 with 10:15 to go.
 
Another 3-pointer by Munzon gave the Golden Eagles a 42-38 lead with 6:59 to go, but Cal Poly Pomona got four straight free throws – two each by Faison and Jeremy Dennis – to tie it with 3:36  to go.
 
Munzon hit two free throws to give the Golden Eagles a 44-42 lead before Faison's go-ahead 3-pointer from the top of the key made it 45-44 with 1:23 remaining.
 
That set the stage for more heroics by Munzon, who hit his clutch 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles the win.
 
Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Humboldt State.