LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking decision Saturday in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest against neighboring Cal State Dominguez Hills.
The Golden Eagles had a 10-point lead with 10:26 to, but were unable to hold off the Toros and ultimately fell in overtime, 93-90, in University Gym. Cal State LA (7-8, 3-7 CCAA) got a go-ahead basket from
Jihad Woods with 20 seconds left in regulation, but the Toros got a game-tying basket from Malcolm Johnson with seven seconds left to send the game into overtime. Cal State LA got a dunk from
Elliott Smith to take an 82-80 lead in the opening seconds of overtime, but Cal State Dominguez Hills (8-9, 5-5 CCAA) scored the next five points and led the rest of the way. A layup by
Garrett Carter and a 3-pointer by
Devin Means trimmed a 92-85 deficit to 92-90 with 11 seconds left, but Jonathan Nichols made one free throw with nine seconds left and a potential game-tying 3-pointer by Carter just missed at the buzzer.
Smith had a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double for the Golden Eagles, while
Jihad Woods had 21 points and six rebounds.
Johnson had a game-high 30 points to go along with 15 rebounds for the Toros. Nichols had 14 points and Deondre Otis had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Means finished with nine points for the Golden Eagles, while Carter had seven points and seven assists and
Jalyn Pennie had seven points while being limited to 20 minutes before fouling out.
Kenneth Cyprian had eight points and
Siyao Sun had six points and three rebounds.
Cal State LA shot 44.6 percent for the game (33-of-74) and was 9-of-31 (29 percent) from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 15-of-23 from the free-throw line and were just 1-of-5 from the line in overtime.
Cal State Dominguez Hills shot 45.8 percent for the game (33-of-72) and was 9-of-24 (37.5 percent) from 3-point range. The Toros were just 18-of-33 from the free-throw line and 5-of-10 in overtime.
The Golden Eagles lost the battle of the boards, 49-40, and committed 11 turnovers to 12 for the Toros.
The Golden Eagles started quickly and took a 10-5 lead, but the Toros went on a 15-3 run to take a 20-13. The Golden Eagles regrouped and took a 26-25 lead after a 3-pointer by
Khalil Williams. Cal State LA took a 39-38 halftime lead on a dunk by Woods at the end of the half.
The Golden Eagles scored the first six points of the second half to take a 45-38 lead and then took a 60-50 lead after a pair of free throws by Smith with 10:26 remaining. The Toros, though, led by Johnson, chipped away at the deficit and pulled to within one point, 72-71, with three minutes left after a 3-pointer by Johnson. Woods scored inside and Means hit a pair of free throws to give the Golden Eagles a 76-72 edge with two minutes to go, but Nichols hit a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game at 76-75. Smith hit a jumper in the lane to make it 78-75, but a three-point play by Johnson tied it at 78-78. Woods and Johnson traded baskets in the final seconds to send the game into overtime.
Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with a home game against Sonoma State.
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