AZUSA -- A disastrous end to the first half was too much to overcome Saturday night for Cal State LA's men's basketball team.

The Golden Eagles were outscored, 26-6, in the final 10 minutes of the opening half and never recovered in a 77-62 loss to Azusa Pacific in the final game of the Cougar Classic at the Felix Event Center. Cal State LA (3-4), which went 2-1 in its recent trip to Alaska, was 0-2 in its return to Southern California after losses this week to Point Loma and Azusa Pacific.

Cal State LA trailed 46-19 at halftime and was able to cut into that deficit in the second half. The Golden Eagles got to within 16 points after a strong start to the second half but couldn't get closer to that until the waning seconds.

Roderick Evans-Taylor had a team-high 14 points and five rebounds, while Travis Hammonds had 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Garrett Carter contributed 11 points, three rebounds and two steals.

Azusa Pacific (4-5) was led by Corey Lengerveld's 18 points. Joey Schreiber had 16 points and four rebounds and Ryan O'Connell had nine points.

Miles Ford had seven points for the Golden Eagles, while Daylin Billingsley had six rebounds.

Cal State LA shot just 31.3 percent (21-of-67) and was only 22.2 percent from 3-point range (8-of-36). Azusa Pacific shot 49.1 percent (28-of-57) and was 11-of-24 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were just 8-of-30 in the first half and missed 12 of their 15 attempts from 3-point range.

Cal State LA was outrebounded, 43-39, and committed 12 turnovers to 15 for the Cougars.

Ford scored the opening basket of the game to stake Cal State LA to a 2-0 lead, but Azusa Pacific scored the next nine points and never looked back. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Jordan Wilson and Billingsley got the Golden Eagles to within 19-13 with 10:35 to go in the first half, but Azusa Pacific then went on its game-deciding 26-6 run to open up a 45-19 halftime lead.

A 3-pointer by Carter and two free throws by Hammonds got the Golden Eagles to within 54-38 with plenty of time remaining, but Azusa Pacific responded with a 13-3 run to restore its big lead.

Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with its conference opener at home against Humboldt State at 7:30 p.m.