LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team made things interesting at the end, but couldn't quite get over the hump in its California Collegiate Athletic Association game against Sonoma State.
 
The Golden Eagles nearly erased a 10-point deficit in the final two minutes, but saw a contested 3-pointer miss in the final seconds of a 78-75 loss to the Seawolves Saturday in University Gym. Cal State LA (4-5, 1-1 CCAA) was coming off an exciting 85-82 win over Humboldt State on Friday when the Golden Eagles rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit, but they couldn't quite muster a second big comeback win on Saturday.
 
Sonoma State (5-2, 1-0 CCAA), which was playing in its conference opener, shot 53.2 percent for the game and just withstood Cal State LA's late comeback effort.
 
Travis Hammonds had a huge game for the Golden Eagles, pouring in a season-high 35 points to go along with 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals. He hit four 3-pointers in the final two minutes to pull the Golden Eagles within a point with 14 seconds to go. Miles Ford had 11 points, while Roderick Evans-Taylor and Garrett Carter had eight points each.
 
Jackson Gion had 15 points to lead four Sonoma State players in double figures. Mason Phillips had 14 points, while Khalid Johnson and Luke Cochran had 13 points each.
 
Jordan Wilson had 10 assists for the Golden Eagles and was able to somehow get off a 3-point attempt over two Sonoma State defenders at the buzzer. Geoffrey Frid had six points, two rebounds and two blocks.
 
Cal State LA shot 41.4 percent for the game (24-of-58) and was 12-of-34 from 3-point range (12-of-34). Sonoma State shot 53.2 percent (25-of-47) and was 9-of-16 from 3-point range. Cal State LA was 15-of-20 from the free-throw line and Sonoma State was 19-of-27.
 
The Golden Eagles fell behind early, 24-11, but were able to surge and take a 38-37 halftime lead. Trailing 30-19, the Golden Eagles closed with half with a 19-7 run. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Hammonds and Carter tied it and a 3-pointer by Ford just before the half gave the Golden Eagles a one-point halftime edge.
 
Sonoma State opened up a 54-44 lead with 13 minutes to go and kept the Golden Eagles at arm's length until the final few minutes. Trailing 73-63, Hammonds got the rally going with a 3-pointer. After a Sonoma State free throw, Hammonds hit another 3-pointer to make it 74-69. Hammonds followed another Sonoma State free throw with his third 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game at 75-72 with 41 seconds left.
 
Cal State LA then thought it had Sonoma State's Johnson tied up for a jump ball, but a foul was called instead and Johnson hit one free throw to make it 76-72 with 27 seconds remaining. Hammonds hit yet another 3-pointer to make it 76-75 with 14 seconds to go, but that was as close as Cal State LA would get. Phillips hit two free throws with eight seconds to go and Wilson's heavily-contested 3-pointer missed at the buzzer.

Cal State LA will return to action next Saturday at Fresno Pacific.