LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team came up short in its bid for a California Collegiate Athletic Association sweep this week.

The short-handed Golden Eagles, after a gutty win over Cal State Dominguez Hills on Thursday, fell to Cal State East Bay, 82-76, Saturday in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in University Gym. Cal State LA (8-10, 5-7 CCAA) stormed back late to have a chance, but some costly missed free throws in the second half short-circuited its comeback bid.  

Cal State LA sliced a 19-point deficit with six minutes left down to five points in the final minute, but couldn't get any closer.

Alexander Sokol had a game-high 23 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Golden Eagles. Payton Moore had 16 points and Jared Pearre had a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double.

Ramsey Huff led five players in double figures with 18 points for Cal State East Bay (5-13, 3-9 CCAA). Chris James had 14 points.

Jaden Lazo had 12 points and four rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Dominic Escobar had eight points and five rebounds.

Cal State LA shot 45 percent for the game (27-of-60) and was 13-of-27 from 3-point range, including 9-of-14 in the second half. Cal State East Bay also shot well, making 44.6 of its shots (29-of-65) and going 14-of-30 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 9-of-17 from the free-throw line, incliuding just 3-of-8 in the second half, while the Pioneers were 10-of-17. 

Cal State LA was out-rebounded, 43-38, and committed 14 turnovers to 12 for Cal State East Bay.

The Golden Eagles fell into a 12-1 hole in the first seven minutes and never did recover. Sokol scored five straight points and Pearre scored a basket to get the Golden Eagles to within 14-8. After the Pioneers built a 24-14 lead, 3-pointers by Escobar and Lazo and a layup by Moore got the Golden Eagles to within 24-22, but the Pioneers went on a 12-3 run to open up an 11-point lead before settling for a 38-28 by halftime.

Cal State East Bay scored the first five points of the second half to build a 43-28 lead and grabbed its biggest advantage at 66-47 with 6:16 to go.

Cal State LA then began a furious rally, getting 3-pointers from Lazo and Kaden Rasheed and a layup by Pearre to spark a quick 8-0 run that made it 66-55 with five minutes left. Baskets by Pearre and Escobar got the Golden Eagles to within 74-65 with 1:43 to go, but the Pioneers made enough free throws down the stretch to preserve the lead. 

Cal State LA will return to action on Thursday with a home game against Cal State San Bernardino.