LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team returned to the court Thursday missing a few key pieces, but the Golden Eagles competed hard against perennial power Cal Poly Pomona in University Gym.

The Golden Eagles, after missing two games last week due to COVID-19 protocols, fell to the Broncos, 78-60, in California Collegiate Athletic Association play. Cal State LA (6-10, 3-7 CCAA) had a three-game winning streak snapped and lost for the first time since Jan. 2. Cal Poly Pomona (9-8, 5-8 CCAA) took command late in the opening half and held off a determined Cal State LA charge in the second half.

Alexander Sokol had a game-high 19 points to lead three Golden Eagles in double figures. Adrease Jackson had 10 points and four rebounds, while Ben Uloko also had 10 points to go along with three rebounds.

BJ Standley led the Broncos with 18 points, including 12 straight on four 3-pointers during a decisive stretch in the first half. He hit six 3-pointers in all before finally cooling off in the second half. Phoenix Shackelford added 17 points and knocked down three 3-pointers and Tavian Henderson had 10 points and nine rebounds.

Trevor Thompson had eight points for the Golden Eagles, while Shane Bell had a team-high six assists and Dominic Escobar had a team-high seven rebounds.

Cal State LA shot just 33.9 percent (21-of-62) and made just 8-of-32 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were just 10-of-16 from the free-throw line. Cal Poly Pomona shot 49.2 percent (32-of-65) and hit 10-of-30 from 3-point range. The Broncos were 4-of-5 from the free-throw line.

Cal Poly Pomona had a 44-28 rebounding edge. Cal State LA commited 13 turnovers while forcing 14. 

The Golden Eagles led early, 5-4, after a 3-pointer by Kyjuan Cannady and took their biggest lead at 14-9 after a pair of free throws by Escobar and a 3-pointer by Sokol made it 14-9. Another 3-pointer by Sokol kept the lead at five points and 17-12 and three free throws by Sokol made it 20-14 with nine minutes remaining in the first half.

The Broncos pulled to within 20-18 and then took the lead for good when Standley hit four 3-pointers in a two-minute span to give Cal Poly Pomona a 30-22 lead. Sokol hit a 3-pointer to bring the Golden Eagles to within 32-25, but the Broncos scored the final eight points of the half to take a 40-25 halftime lead.

Standley hit two more 3-pointers to give the Broncos a 46-28 lead early in the second half and Cal State LA faced an uphill climb the rest of the way. Thompson scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer to make it 71-55, but by then only three minutes remained.

Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a home game against first-place Cal State San Bernardino at 3 p.m.









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