POMONA -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team used a big second-half rally and some clutch play down the stretch to earn a long-awaited win at Cal Poly Pomona.
The Golden Eagles erased a 14-point halftime deficit and got a game-winning shot by
Shane Bell to beat the Broncos, 65-63, Thursday night in Kellogg Arena. Cal State LA (7-6, 4-3 CCAA) snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Broncos and posted its first road at Cal Poly Pomona since a 64-61 decision on Feb. 22, 2012.
The game was decided on a pull-up jumper by Bell with 2.2 seconds remaining after a swarming Cal State LA defense had forced a Cal Poly Pomona miss. Bell gathered the rebound and dribbled quickly upcourt, pulling up for the game-winner from about 14 feet out that hit nothing but net. Cal Poly Pomona tossed a long pass into the frontcourt that took less than a second off the clock and called a timeout. The Broncos were then stymied by a determined Cal State LA defense and a last-gasp 3-pointer heavily contested by Pearre fell well short at the buzzer.
Jaden Lazo led four Golden Eagles in double figures with a career-high 17 points, while
Alexander Sokol had 15 points, including two free throws that tied the game at 63-63 in the final minute. Bell finished with 14 points, four rebounds and three assists, while
Payton Moore had 12 points and five rebounds.
Shyheim Parm had 17 points to lead Cal Poly Pomona (6-4, 3-3 CCAA), while Jaden Winfield had 14 points.
Jared Pearre had five points and seven rebounds for the Golden Eagles and also played outstanding defense to force a last-gasp miss from the Broncos.
Cal State LA shot 38.2 percent for the game (21-of-55) and was 13-of-35 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were just 10-of-17 from the free-throw line. Cal Poly Pomona shot 42.9 percent for the game (24-of-56) and was 7-of-21 from 3-point range. The Broncos were 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. Cal State LA was out-rebounded, 42-26, and committed only 11 turnovers to 17 for the Broncos.
Cal State LA needed a big second-half rally after falling behind, 39-25, by halftime. The Golden Eagles trailed by just two points, 25-23, after a 3-pointer by Moore, but the Broncos closed out the half with a 14-2 run to close out the half.
The Golden Eagles got an explosive start to the second half and four consecutive 3-pointers by Lazo pulled the Golden Eagles to within 39-37 and another 3-pointer, this one by Sokol, gave the Golden Eagles a 40-39 lead. Moore added a 3-pointer to pull the Golden Eagles to within 44-43 and Cal State LA's first two-pointer of the second half, a jumper by Bell, gave them a 45-44 lead with 13 minutes to go.
Cal State LA used a 7-0 run after two jumpers by Bell and a 3-pointer by Lazo to take its biggest lead of the game, 52-46, with 10:30 to go. Cal Poly Pomona rallied back to tie it at 53-53 before a 3-pointer by Bell put the Golden Eagles ahead again. Cal Poly Pomona moved out to a 63-59 lead with three minutes to play, but a basket by Lazo and two free throws by Sokol tied it with 38 seconds to go.
Cal State LA's defensive pressure forced a miss nearing the end of the shot clock from Cal Poly Pomona and Bell took the rebound and immediately went upcourt to hit the game-winner.
Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a road game at first-place Cal State San Bernardino.
Â