LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team recorded another exciting non-conference victory Tuesday night in University Gym, although the contest might have been just a little too exciting at the end.

The Golden Eagles led by as many as 19 points midway through the second half before having to hold off a furious Northwest Nazarene rally in a 74-70 victory. The Nighthawks got the lead down to two points in the final minute, but the Golden Eagles held on for the win.

Cal State LA (4-3) has some of its best non-conference victories in many years and has a 4-1 record in five non-conference contests after big wins over Azusa Pacific, Biola, Fresno Pacific and Northwest Nazarene that could come in handy when regional postseason berths are decided at the end of the season.

Freshman CJ Fisher had a tremendous game for the Golden Eagles, pouring in a season-high 18 points to go along with five rebounds and one steal. He led three Golden Eagles in double figures. Shacquille Dawkins and Michael Wright finished with 11 points each.

Ezekiel Alley had 18 points to lead Northwest Nazarene (3-2). George Reidy added 14 points and Sam Roth had a game-high 16 rebounds and six points.

Sean Estes and Michael-Isaiah Ajiboye had nine points each for the Golden Eagles.

Cal State LA shot 38.7 percent (24-of-62) for the game and made 16-of-44 from 3-point range (36.4 percent). Northwest Nazarene shot 40.3 percent (25-of-62) and made 8-of-31 from 3-point range (25.8 percent). Cal State LA was 10-of-18 from the free-throw line, while Northwest Nazarene was 12-of-21.

Cal State LA was out-rebounded, 43-31, and committed 11 turnovers to 14 for the Nighthawks.

The Golden Eagles started slowly and trailed by as many as nine points early in the first half. Cal State LA used an 8-0 run fueled by a basket by Muhammad and a pair of 3-pointers by Fisher to take a 15-14 edge and another 3-pointer by Fisher, a free throw by Ajiboye and a 3-pointer by Ajiboye built a 22-16 lead for the Golden Eagles. A 3-pointer by Estes gave the Golden Eagles a 30-23 halftime lead.

A 3-pointer by Williams gave the Golden Eagles a 48-36 lead, a layup by Dawkins and five straight points by Wright gave the Golden Eagles a 55-38 edge and a 3-pointer by Fisher gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead, 64-45, with 9:10 to go.

The Nighthawks responded with a 10-0 run before a 3-pointer by Muhammad stopped the run. Another 11-2 run, though, cut the margin to just three points before two free throws by Wright made it 71-66 with 42 seconds to go. One free throw by Wright made it 72-68 with 16 seconds left and, after Northwest Nazarene cut the deficit to 72-70, a pair of free throws by Fisher closed out the game.

Cal State LA will return to action with a conference game against Cal State San Marcos on Saturday at 3 p.m.