LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team got off to a smashing start in its California Collegiate Athletic Association opener against Cal State San Marcos, but the good times didn't last nearly long enough.

The Golden Eagles scored the first 16 points of the game, but the Cougars roared back to take the lead by halftime and pulled away for a 78-64 win in University Gym. Cal State LA (3-4, 0-1 CCAA) was hurt by big scoring runs in each half as Cal State San Marcos (1-4, 1-0 CCAA) dramatically turned the game around after falling into the early hole. The Cougars, who led by two points at halftime, 30-28, built leads as large as 24 points in the second half and were able to hold off a spirited Cal State LA rally that got the Golden Eagles to within eight points with less than three minutes to play.

Dominic Escobar had a team-high 17 points and five rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Alexander Sokol had 13 points. Adrease Jackson, in his first game of the season, had 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Greg Milton III had a game-high 22 points and six rebounds to lead all five starters in double figures for the Cougars. Joel Mensah and Jayce MacCain had 12 points each.

Payton Moore had six points for the Golden Eagles, while Shane Bell had five points, seven rebounds and four assists. All 10 players who saw action on Saturday scored for Cal State LA.

Cal State LA shot 44.2 percent for the game (23-of-52) and actually shot better in the second half (48.1 percent) than it did in the first (40 percent). Cal State LA was 5-of-19 from 3-point range and 13-of-18 from the free-throw line. Cal State San Marcos shot 53.6 percent for the game (30-of-56) and was 16-of-25 in the second half (64 percent). The Cougars were 12-of-17 from the free-throw line and made 9-of-10 down the stretch to preserve their lead.

Cal State LA got off to a sensational start as layups by Moore and Bell, a 3-pointer to Sokol, a layup by Kaden Rasheed, a layup by Moore, a 3-pointer by Bell and a pair of free throws by Jackson gave the Golden Eagles a 16-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game. A layup by Edwyn Collins got the Cougars on the board and Cal State San Marcos quickly cut into the lead, eventually tying the game at 24-24 following a 24-8 run.

The Cougars took their first lead at 28-26 after a layup by Milton, but Jackson countered with a layup to tie it. McCain made a layup before the buzzer to give Cal State San Marcos a 30-28 halftime lead.

A nice basket by Jared Pearre promptly tied the game for the Golden Eagles at 30-30 early in the second half, but the Cougars went on a stunning 13-0 run as part of a 30-6 stretch that completely turned the game around and gave the visitors a 60-36 lead.

Trailing by 24 points with 8:48 to go, the Golden Eagles had a good run left in them and a basket by Pearre and three consecutive baskets by Escobar sliced the lead to 16 points. A three-point play by Escobar cut the deficit to 10 points at 66-56 with 2:49 to go and a pair of free throws by Escobar made it 66-58 with 2:28 to go.

Sokol hit a 3-pointer to get the deficit to eight points again at 72-64 with 1:15 to go, but Cal State San Marcos hit six straight free throws to extend the winning margin.

Cal State LA will return to action on Thursday with a conference game at Chico State beginning at 7:30 p.m.