LOS ANGELES – It wasn't easy, but Cal State LA's men's basketball team finally pulled itself to the break-even point with its third straight California Collegiate Athletic Association victory.
 
Cal State LA stormed back from a nine-point deficit in the second half and beat Cal State Monterey Bay, 68-57, Saturday night in University Gym. The Golden Eagles (10-10, 6-6 CCAA) have won four of their last five games after snapping a four-game losing streak. The Golden Eagles are in the fifth spot in the conference standings as teams battle for the eight spots in the CCAA Championship Tournament.
 
Jordan Wilson led four Golden Eagles in double figures with 19 points, three rebounds and two steals. Roderick Evans-Taylor had 16 points and eight rebounds, Geoffrey Frid had a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double and Travis Hammonds had 13 points and eight rebounds.
 
Kevin Warren led three Otters (3-14, 1-10 CCAA) in double figures with 14 points and five rebounds. Gregg Polosky had 12 points and six rebounds and Jonquis Bouyea had 11 points.
 
The Golden Eagles shot 38.6 percent for the game (22-of-57) and was just 4-of-21 from 3-point range. The Otters shot 35.8 percent (19-of-53) and were 4-of-17 from 3-point range. Cal State LA was 20-of-27 from the free-throw line, while Cal State Monterey Bay was 15-of-22.
 
Cal State LA had a 43-36 rebounding edge and committed 13 turnovers to 15 for the Otters.
 
The Golden Eagles started quickly and opened up a 21-10 lead after a 3-pointer by Wilson with 9:23 remaining in the half. The Otters responded with a 14-2 run to wipe out the deficit and take their first lead at 24-23. A pair of free throws by Wilson gave the Golden Eagles a 29-27 lead, but Cal State Monterey Bay scored the final five points of the period to take a 32-29 halftime lead.
 
Things went from bad to worse for the Golden Eagles early in the second half as the Otters opened up their biggest lead, 40-31, with 17:30 to go. Cal State LA chipped away at the deficit and finally caught and passed the Otters at 50-49 following a pair of Frid free throws with 9:46 to go. Cal State LA surrendered the next four points before a pair of free throws by Evans-Taylor and a basket by Evans-Taylor started a 13-0 run that ended when a free throw by Joshua Hopkins with 1:06 remaining gave the Golden Eagles a 63-53 lead. Frid hit three free throws during the run, Hammonds scored on a layup and Wilson hit a big 3-pointer that made it 62-53 with 2:16 to go.
 
Cal State LA will return to action in a non-conference home game against La Sierra at 7 p.m.