LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team gave it its best shot Saturday against No. 2 Cal State San Bernardino, but couldn't come up with an upset win.
The Golden Eagles shot nearly 54 percent from the field, but couldn't quite get over the hump in a 95-84 loss to the Coyotes in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest. Cal State LA battled impressively, slicing a 16-point second-half deficit down to eight points with 13 minutes to go, but the conference-leading Coyotes had too much firepower and the Golden Eagles hurt their own cause with 11 missed free throws, including seven in the second half when they needed every point.
All five Cal State LA starters reached double figures in the contest.
Alexander Sokol had a sensational game for the Golden Eagles (6-11, 3-8 CCAA), pouring in 25 points, which was just one point shy of his season high. Sokol was 8-of-11 overall, 4-of-7 from 3-point range and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.
Kyjuan Cannady did reach a season high with 17 points in an outstanding performance. He was 7-of-12, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
Dominic Escobar just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Kaijae Yee-Stephens had a game-high 32 points and was 8-of-16 from 3-point range for the Coyotes (18-2, 12-2 CCAA). Darius Mickens had 20 points and eight rebounds.
Adrease Jackson had 12 points and three rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while
Shane Bell had 10 points and nine assists.
Cal State LA shot 53.6 percent (30-of-56), including 11-of-21 from 3-point range, while Cal State San Bernardino shot 50.8 percent (32-of-63) and was 12-of-32 from 3-point range. The Coyotes were 19-of-27 from the free-throw line, while the Golden Eagles were 13-of-24.
Cal State San Bernardino had a 40-26 rebounding edge, while both teams had 16 turnovers.
It was a physical contest with 44 fouls. There were a total of 30 free throws attempted in the second half alone, 15 by each team.
It was an uphill battle for the short-handed Golden Eagles almost from the start. A basket by Bell tied it at 2-2, but the Coyotes scored the next five points and led the rest of the way.
Cal State LA found itself in a 19-7 hole before a 3-pointer by Sokol made it 19-10. The Coyotes scored the next seven points to take a 16-point lead before a basket by Jackson and a pair of 3-pointers by Sokol quickly cut the margin to just eight points. Cal State San Bernardino responded with another run and opened up a 17-point lead at 40-23 before baskets by Sokol and Cannady and back-to-back 3-pointers by Bell and Cannady made it 41-33. Five straight points by Sokol got the Golden Eagles to within 49-43, but the Coyotes closed the half on a 6-2 run to take a 55-45 halftime lead.
A pair of free throws by Sokol cut the deficit to 63-54 with 16:30 left and three more points by Sokol made it 65-57 with 13 minutes to go, but that was as close as the Golden Eagles would get. Each time the Golden Eagles would get to within single digits, the Coyotes would respond.
Cal State LA will return to action next Thursday with a home game against Chico State.
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