AZUSA -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team was strong down the stretch once again and posted another big road victory against a tough regional opponent.

The Golden Eagles surged to an eight-point lead with six minutes left and then held off Azusa Pacific, 70-68, Tuesday night in the Felix Event Center. Cal State LA (4-1) won for the fourth time in five games and is off to its best start since 2017-18.

Cal State LA once again flourished with its quality depth and four players reached double figures in scoring. Corey Cofield led the way with 14 points, while Dominic Escobar had 11 points, three rebounds and five steals and A'Jahni Levias had 11 points, three rebounds and three assists. Eche Okeke had 10 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Ken West led four Azusa Pacific (1-4) players in double figures with a game-high 19 points. Michael Saba had 12 points and Nate Kleppe and Ethan Speaker had 10 points each.

Deuce Walker had nine points and five assists for the Golden Eagles, while Shane Bell, who earned California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Week honors earlier in the day, had eight points, all in the second half, while making all four of his field-goal attempts after halftime. 

Cal State LA shot 46.4 percent for the game (26-of-56) and was 9-of-24 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 9-of-11 from the free-throw line. Azusa Pacific shot 46 percent (23-of-50) and was 10-of-24 from 3-point range. The Cougars were 12-of-19 from the free-throw line. 

Azusa Pacific had a 43-17 rebounding edge, but Cal State LA committed only eight turnovers and forced 22, which led to a 20-7 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Golden Eagles trailed by 10 points, 25-15, with 5:42 left in the first half, but 3-pointers by Jaden Lazo, Walker and Levias tied it at 30-30 and a 3-pointer by Walker gave the Golden Eagles a 33-30 halftime lead.  

Cal State LA then took a 10-point lead, 55-45, after a 3-pointer by Levias with 10 minutes to go and the Golden Eagles still led by eight points at 62-54 after a basket by Bell with 6:30 to go. Azusa Pacific, though, crept back into the game and trailed by just three points before Escobar hit a jumper to make it 68-63 with 2:26 left. The Cougars got to within two points at 68-66 on a three-point play by Kleppe, but Escobar scored on a layup to make it 70-66 with 1:04 to go off an assist from Bell and the Golden Eagles held on for the win.

Cal State LA will return to action on Thursday, Nov. 30 in its CCAA opener at Cal State San Marcos.