HAYWARD -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team gave its all - and then some - in its attempt to reach a first-ever California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament final on Friday in Pioneer Gym.

The No. 5 seed Golden Eagles and No. 1 seed Cal Poly Pomona battled through regulation and four excruciating overtime periods before it was the Broncos advancing, 102-99, in a thrilling semi-final game at Cal State East Bay. Cal State LA (18-12) and Cal Poly Pomona (21-5) battled on even terms throughout and that's what made the game especially dramatic. Neither team built a lead larger than four points in any of the overtime periods and both sides had chances to win the game in final possessions of regulation and each of the first three overtime periods.

The game was the longest in the NCAA Division II this season and the longest in CCAA Tournament history.
 

#CCAAmebb | The @LAGoldenEagles battled til the final buzzer, and their takeaway is about the bond of this team. Here how they describe the night & the season after bowing out of the #postCCAAson after a 4OT loss >>> https://t.co/ppYdy63JQH

— CCAA (@goccaa) March 9, 2019

The Golden Eagles took their final lead of the night after a 3-pointer by Miles Ford put them up, 97-95, with 1:16 to go. Shacquille Dawkins, who had a phenomenal game, came up with a steal to give the Golden Eagles a chance to pad their lead, but a turnover ended that possession and Cal Poly Pomona tied it with a pair of free throws with 34 seconds left. After a defensive stop, the Broncos got the ball again and a 3-pointer by Mason Dickerson gave the top seeds a 100-97 lead with 13 seconds to go.

Dawkins made a driving layup to make it 100-99 with 4.3 seconds left, but the Broncos made a pair of free throws with 3.4 seconds to ice the game. The Golden Eagles turned it over on the ensuing inbounds pass and that was that.

Dawkins had a sensational game, pouring in a season-high 32 points. Fard Muhammad was also outstanding, scoring 24 points. Ford finished with 13 points, Kenneth Cyprian, who before the game was named the CCAA Men's Basketball Championship Scholar, had eight points and Ja'Sean Lewis had a team-high 13 rebounds to go along with four points.
 

This one by @ShacDawkins46 puts the Golden Eagles up by two but a foul allows the Broncos to get two back. It's 84-84 with 27 seconds pic.twitter.com/GvqkwyYVWS

— Cal State LA Athletics (@LAGoldenEagles) March 9, 2019

Cal State LA shot 42.3 percent (33-of-78) against Cal Poly Pomona's tough defense, while the Broncos shot 45.8 percent (33-of-72) against a determined Golden Eagle defense. The Golden Eagles were 15-of-43 from 3-point range, while the Broncos were 6-of-19. The Golden Eagles were 18-of-27 from the free-throw line, while the Broncos were 30-of-39. Cal State LA was out-rebounded, 57-39, but forced 23 turnovers while committing 16.

The Golden Eagles started well and the 11-4 lead they jumped out to was the largest for either team in the contest. Cal Poly Pomona took a 29-28 halftime lead after a late 3-pointer and the teams battled evenly from then on. Cal State LA faced a 61-55 deficit with 2:34 to go, but a free throw from Jihad Woods and a 3-pointer by Jordan Rogers got the Golden Eagles right back in it. A long 3-pointer by Muhammad tied it at 62-62 and a drive by Muhammad in the lane tied it at 64-64.

Cyprian then made a key defensive play, blocking a shot off a Cal Poly Pomona player and out of bounds to keep the Broncos from taking a late lead in regulation.

The Golden Eagles fell behind, 70-66, in the first overtime period, but a 3-pointer by Dawkins brought them back. A pair of Dawkins free throws and a basket by Lewis from Dawkins gave Cal State LA a 75-72 lead, but the Broncos scored six straight points before a clutch 3-pointer by Cyprian with 2.1 seconds left sent the game into a second overtime.
 

#CCAAmbb | Well ... @lagoldeneagles' Kenneth Cyprian (our #goCCAA Championship Scholar, btw) would like to keep playing! We're knotted at 78-all with 2.1 to play! #postCCAAson pic.twitter.com/MEPyIWMrIk

— CCAA (@goccaa) March 9, 2019

A driving layup by Dawkins put the Golden Eagles ahead 84-82 with 37 seconds left, but the Broncos tied it with a pair of free throws with 27 seconds to go. This time, the Golden Eagles had a late chance to win it, but a good look by Dawkins against some tough defense just missed.

In the third overtime, a steal and layup by Dawkins opened the scoring and gave the Golden Eagles an 86-84 lead. The Golden Eagles then trailed 90-88 before a driving layup by Dawkins tied it with 15 seconds to go. Cal Poly Pomona had the last chance this time, but could not convert.

In the final overtime, the Golden Eagles trailed 95-92, but a reverse layup by Dawkins and a 3-pointer by Ford put the Golden Eagles ahead for a final time, 97-95.

Cal State LA's 18 wins this season are the most since the 1999-00 team had 19 victories.