LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team turned up the defensive pressure in a non-conference win over Central Washington on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Eagles limited the Wildcats to just 20 first-half points and went on to a 57-51 win in University Gym. Cal State LA (2-3) led by as many as 10 points in the second half and held off the Wildcats for its second win of the season.

Dominic Escobar led the way with 17 points, six rebounds and two steals. Payton Moore, Alexander Sokol and Deuce Walker had eight points each.

Camron McNeil had 13 points for Central Washington (1-3), which was coming off a win over Cal State San Marcos on Thursday. Colby Gennett had 10 points.

Shane Bell had another strong game for the Golden Eagles with six points, four rebounds and a team-high five assists.

Cal State LA shot 37.7 percent for the game (20-of-53) and was 5-of-16 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were also 12-of-21 from the free-throw line. Central Washington shot 39.2 percent for the game (20-of-51) and was 7-of-20 from 3-point range. The Wildcats, though, were just 4-of-11 from the free-throw line. The Wildcats held a 41-29 rebounding edge, while the Golden Eagles forced 18 turnovers and committed only nine.

The Golden Eagles led for most of the game and led by as many as five points in the low-scoring first half, 19-14, after a 3-pointer by Moore. The Wildcats pulled to within 21-20, but the Golden Eagles got a free throw by Cyrus Johnson and a layup by Escobar to take a 24-20 halftime lead.

The Wildcats pulled to within one point early in the second half, but a 3-pointer by Bell pushed the lead back to four points and Cal State LA opened up its biggest lead, 42-32, after a layup by Walker with 12 minutes to go. A 3-pointer by Escobar kept the lead at 10 points, 45-35, with 10 minutes to go. 

Cal State LA saw its lead cut to one point, 49-48, but Escobar scored four straight points to extend the advantage to 53-48 with 1:28 remaining and a pair of free throws by Sokol with 17 seconds put the game out of reach.

Cal State LA will return to action on Tuesday with a home game against Fresno Pacific at 7 p.m.