LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team got its 2023-24 home schedule off to a strong start Thursday night with a California Collegiate Athletic Association victory over Cal State Monterey Bay.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to leads as large as 22 points in the first half and went on to an 82-62 win over Cal State Monterey Bay in University Gym. Cal State LA (6-2, 2-1 CCAA) held a 37-26 halftime lead and then increased its advantage in the second half.

Eche Okeke led a balanced offensive attack, leading four players in double figures with a season-high 18 points for the Golden Eagles, while Dominic Escobar had 14 points, Shane Bell had 12 points and Corey Cofield had 11 points.

Joey Billelo had 15 points to lead Cal State Monterey Bay (3-5, 1-2 CCAA), while Jordan Archie had 12 points.

Isaiah Fields had eight points and six rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while A'Jahni Levias had seven points.

Cal State LA shot 47.5 percent for the game (29-of-61) and was 8-of-23 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 16-of-18 from the free-throw line. Cal State Monterey Bay shot 37.5 percent for the game and was 9-of-29 from 3-point range. The Otters were 11-of-16 from the free-throw line. Both teams had 34 rebounds and the Golden Eagles committed only seven turnovers while the Otters committed 17.

A 3-pointer by Bell gave the Golden Eagles their first double-digit lead of the game at 16-6 and the Golden Eagles went on a 19-4 run to take a 22-point lead, 32-10 after 3-pointers by Field and Justin Collins and a layup by Deuce Walker. Cal State Monterey Bay made rallied to trail by just nine points before a layup by Kris Krause gave the Golden Eagles a 37-26 halftime lead.

Cal State LA saw its lead cut to nine points in the second half at 43-34, but the Golden Eagles responded with a 9-0 run to take a 52-34 edge. Walker started the run with a pair of free throws, Escobar hit a 3-pointer and Okeke had back-to-back baskets. A layup by Escobar gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead of the game, 65-38, and they led by at least 19 points the rest of the way.

Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Stanislaus State at 3 p.m.