LOS ANGELES -- A short-handed Cal State LA men's basketball team certainly didn't get the start it wanted Friday in the first game of the CCAA/PacWest Challenge.
The Golden Eagles struggled through a cold-shooting night in a season-opening 83-48 loss to Biola in University Gym. Cal State LA (0-1) shot just 27.3 percent for the game and simply couldn't keep pace with the hot-shooting Eagles, who shot 51.6 percent, including 52.4 percent from 3-point range.
Biola also enjoyed a hefty 56-20 rebounding edge while winning this matchup between California Collegiate Athletic Association and PacWest Conference opponents.
Cal State LA had only eight healthy players for the season opener with several impact performers sidelined due to injury or illness.
Shane Bell overcame some early foul trouble and had a team-high 12 points, while
Payton Moore had 12 points and
Alexander Sokol and
Cyrus Johnson had seven points each.
Daniel Esparza led three Eagles in double figures with 19 points.
Jared Pearre and
Justin Collins had five points each for the Golden Eagles.
Cal State LA was just 15-of-55 from the floor and just 5-of-23 from 3-point range. Biola, on the other hand, was 32-of-62 from the floor and 11-of-21 from 3-point range.
The Golden Eagles led early after a three-point play by Pearre, 5-3, and were down by only three points at 21-18 after a pair of free throws by Sokol with seven minutes left in the first half. Biola, though, closed the half with a 15-4 run to take a 36-22 halftime lead.
Cal State LA sliced it to 10 points at 36-26 after four points from Bell, but that was as close as the Golden Eagles would get.
The Golden Eagles will close out the CCAA-PacWest Challenge with a game against Concordia on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Â
