CHICO -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team got its offense rolling in the second half of Friday's game at No. 23 Chico State, but the Golden Eagles couldn't get enough defensive stops to upend the Wildcats.
The Golden Eagles scored 54 second-half points, but couldn't overcome a 13-point halftime deficit and fell to the Wildcats, 89-82, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in Acker Gym. Cal State LA (7-10, 3-6 CCAA) whittled a 15-point second-half deficit down to three points with two minutes to play, but couldn't get any closer. Chico State (14-2, 7-1 CCAA) improved to 9-0 at home with the win.
Roderick Evans-Taylor led the Golden Eagles with 21 points and had a spectacular offensive game. He was 9-of-11 from the floor and hit both of his 3-point tries. He was also 1-of-1 from the free-throw line.
Travis Hammonds had a big second half for Cal State LA and finished with 20 points, while
Jordan Wilson finished with 15 points.
Jalen McFerren led five Chico State players in double figures with 23 points. Isaiah Ellis had 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Justin Briggs had 16 points.
Miles Ford had six points for Cal State LA, while
Garrett Carter and
Joshua Hopkins had five points each.
Cal State LA shot 50.9 percent (28-of-55) and made 6-of-14 from 3-point range (42.9 percent). Chico State shot 51.7 percent (30-of-58) and was just 4-of-14 from 3-point range. Cal State LA was 20-of-27 from the free-throw line, while Chico State was 25-of-29.
The biggest statistical difference came on the boards. Cal State LA was out-rebounded, 40-17. The Golden Eagles committed 12 turnovers to 13 for the Wildcats.
The offensive show was a far cry from the defensive struggle that took place the last time Cal State LA visited Acker Gym. In a first-round CCAA Championship Tournament game in March, the Golden Eagles stunned the top-seeded Wildcats, 54-37. On Friday, the Golden Eagles outscored the Wildcats, 54-48, in the second half alone.
The Golden Eagles, though, started slowly and fell behind by halftime, 41-28. Chico State also started the second half well and opened up a 52-37 lead with 14:40 to go.
Cal State LA then began to steadily chip away at the Chico State advantage, although the Wildcats scored enough to prevent any sustained Golden Eagle runs. A three-point play by Carter with 14 minutes to play started the Golden Eagles' climb back into the game. A layup by Ford and a three-point play by Evans-Taylor sliced the deficit to seven points, 56-49, with 11:35 to go and 3-pointers by Hopkins and Hammonds kept the margin at seven points, 62-55, with 9:30 to go.
After falling behind 78-68, the Golden Eagles made one final push. A pair of free throws by Hammonds, a layup by Ford and two free throws by Hammonds made it 78-74. A layup by Evans-Taylor got the Golden Eagles to within three points, 79-76, with 2:16 to go, but Chico State scored after an offensive rebound on its next possession and held on from there.
Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday night with a road game at Stanislaus State.
