LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team has clinched a spot in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament thanks to a hard-fought victory in the Eagles Nest on Thursday night.

The Golden Eagles got a game-high 23 points from Duce Zaid and came up big down the stretch to beat Stanislaus State, 68-62, in a key conference game. The victory assured Cal State LA (9-17, 8-11 CCAA) a spot in the eight-team CCAA Tournament while eliminating the Warriors (7-17, 6-13 CCAA) from postseason consideration.

Cal State LA is now one-half game back of Sonoma State for the No. 7 seed and 1 1/2 games back of No. 6 seed San Francisco State with one game remaining. The Golden Eagles will be on the road for a first-round tournament game on Tuesday against an undetermined opponent.

The Golden Eagles rode a solid defensive performance to their sixth win in their last seven games. Cal State LA limited the Warriors to just 31 percent shooting in the second half, including a 4-of-18 effort from 3-point range. Stanislaus State rallied from an eight-point deficit and took its final lead with nine minutes remaining before Collin Johnson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer to give the Golden Eagles the lead for good.

Zaid had 23 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals to lead Cal State LA, which got scoring from all 10 players who saw game action on Thursday. Dushon Carter had eight points, Jonathan Davis had seven points and eight rebounds and Joshua Munzon had seven points and four assists.

Kyle Gouveia and Christian Bayne scored 20 points each for the Warriors. Vondel Faniel had an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double.

Cal State LA shot 42.4 percent for the game (25-of-59) and was 5-of-22 from 3-point range (22.7 percent). Stanislaus State shot 38.2 percent (21-of-55) and was 7-of-28 from 3-point range. Cal State LA was 13-of-23 from the free-throw line, while Stanislaus State was 13-of-18. Stanislaus State had a 43-33 rebounding edge, but committed 18 turnovers to only eight for the Golden Eagles.

Cal State LA scored the first seven points of the game and held a quick 9-2 lead, but Stanislaus State erased that deficit with a 16-8 run to take its first lead. The Warriors never led by more than three points in the first half and a 3-pointer by Zaid at the end of the half gave Cal State LA a 34-31 halftime lead.

Baskets by Brandon Hitchman and Geoffrey Frid gave the Golden Eagles a 43-38 lead with 13 minutes to go, but Stanislaus State grabbed a 46-45 lead after a 3-pointer by Alek Carlson and a 48-47 edge after a basket by Gouveia with 9:35 to go.

Johnson, though, hit a 3-pointer and made one of two free throws to give the Golden Eagles the lead for good. A 3-pointer by Bayne pulled the Warriors with one point at 57-56 with 3:35 remaining, but Cal State LA scored the next seven points to take a 64-56 lead with 57 seconds left and held on for the win.

Cal State LA will conclude its regular season with a home game on Saturday against Chico State. The Golden Eagles will honor their five seniors - Andre McPhail, Joshua Munzon, Duce Zaid, Dushon Carter and Collin Johnson - in pregame ceremonies.